So here's the deal...

I've started a new blog.

but it's just me (Anna).

Mainly because I feel a little weird talking about just me here, and barely mentioning David. I know most of you don't care, but it's weird to me. So from now on, if there is something going on with David and I, I'll post it here, but as for my random thoughts and various fangirl outbursts you can go here and see it there.

The main purpose for this is actually to get more into writing and graphic design. Most writers have blogs, and I want to show people all over the stuff I can do when it comes to graphic design. It's still a work in progress, but I hope that it'll get a bit better.

Feel free to follow me. (:

A Year of Broadway!

This past year can pretty much be called Anna's Year of Broadway.

I've seen some truly amazing shows this year and I've loved every single one of them.

In February, I went as saw Avenue Q which is, by far, one of the funniest musicals I've ever seen. Not exactly a show I'd take anyone under the age of 16 to go see maybe, but definitely one of the best shows out there.



March came, and with it came, Legally Blonde: The Musical. Elle Woods on Broadway can not be denied. This musical continues to be one of the most listened to musicals on my Zune. If ever there's a day that makes me sad or depressed, or I just need a little smile, I turn on Legally Blonde and within the first few moments of what ever song comes on, I'm smiling and dancing.


When I went to New Jersey to visit my mother with my younger cousin Shannon, my mom and her friend surprised us with taking us to a sneak peek of the revival of Promises, Promises, a Musical that is now very dear to me, because it was my first Broadway show ON BROADWAY. Not only was it my first show on Broadway in NYC, but it showcased one of my favorite B-Way actresses, Kristen Chenoweth. It was an amazing experience and most certainly one to repeat if I ever got the chance.


Lastly, for my birthday, David and I went to go see The Lion King. It's always been one of our favorite animated movies and the Broadway play didn't disappoint. The way they portrayed the characters, the magnitude of the show was beyond astounding. You almost need to go see it twice, once to concentrate on the amazingly complex costumes, and a second time to enjoy the retelling of the story.

This next year, I have no plans of slowing down. I can't wait to go see Young Frankenstein, Monty Python's Spamalot, Mama Mia, Mary Poppins, Les Misérables, l, and finally, be able to see the Tuachan Theater in St. George put on their version of 'The Little Mermaid'. I'm lucky to have people who are willing to go see these shows with me. It's going to be another year of amazing musicals.

Proof that J.K. Rowling is amazing!

“It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all - in which case, you fail by default.”
-J.K. Rowling.

This quote seems to sum up my whole life (or at least how I've been feeling lately), and just proves that J.K. Rowling is one of the most influential women I've ever heard about.

Books are good for you!

You'd think, considering my mother, that I'd read like Rory Gilmore and never put a book down. But alas, although I do LOVE to read, that particular gene has not been passed down to me. Though I do always have a book in my purse (Meg Cabot usually as she IS my favorite author), I've realized I haven't read NEARLY as much as I wanted to this year. I got distracted by pretty tv shows and AMAZING movies (see: Harry Potter posts), that my reading habits have kind of died.

So I'm changing this.

Starting tonight. Tonight I'm off to go pick up THREE books from the library all at once. I'm pretty excited to read them. Lucky for me I have a Bookaholic Extraordinaire for a best friend and since she and I have freakishly similar tastes in books she's able to send me in the right direction for books I should read.

So if anyone has any recommendations they want to send my way, I'm more than happy to take a crack at them! (: Because every purse needs a good book.

If you want to follow what I'm reading (and have a goodreads account) add me here.

(click the button)

My Weekly Enthusiast site has fallen slightly, only because of my momentary distraction of Harry Potter and the lack of a muse and good tv. I'm hoping to pick it back up in the new year. Once all my shows come back from winter hiatus.

The Beginning of the End

So I realize that I've been beyond horrible at updating this. The thing is, nothing has really been happening in mine and David's life that is all that interesting.

however there is something I want to share, its very geeky but it is something that is very special to me.

This upcoming Thursday, I will be one of those crazy people standing in line to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, at 12:15 am. That's right I'm insane.

I know that a lot of people don't understand my fangirl obsessions. But Harry Potter is very much one of those books that has made me the person I am. It sounds silly and maybe even untrue, but it is very much one of those random things that makes me so sad that this amazing franchise of my generation is ending.

So, I'm taking this meme from one of my friends on Livejournal. Its basically supposed to be answered every day for 30 days. But since Harry Potter comes out on Thursday, I'm doing it all at once.

(Be warned... there's some sort of random references in this that you may not get... also, there are quite a few random graphics I've made.)
Day 1: Your favorite book
The sixth book is my favorite by far.
It makes my little shipper heart flutter, and is the most humor filled book (with the exception of the last part). Its the one that I related to most too at the time. And the first book I ever went to a midnight release for ever.

Day 2: Your favorite movie
As a movie, not comparing them to the books, the fourth movie is my favorite. As much as I want to go and cut all the boys’ hair in the movie, the parts that they used were exactly how i pictured them in the books. Most surprisingly was the way they filmed the Yule Ball. Even though Hermione’s dress was the wrong color, it was still perfect.

Day 3: Is there any of the films adaptations that have made you angry because they've ignored important parts of the books?
Of all the movies I'm pretty sure the third one annoyed me the most. I understand that they can't put everything in the movies but I do wish they would have gone into more detail on the backstory of the marauders. When we went and saw it, afterward I was answering unanswered questions for those in my family who hadn't read the books.

Day 4: Least favorite female character and why.
Unfortunately I'd have to say Ginny. It could just be the way Bonnie Wright plays her. But I find the character to be very bland. Yeah she's a pretty awesome wizard, but she's just kind of a little boring. Maybe its just me. Perhaps JK Rowling didn't go into enough detail when it came to that character, or perhaps I was too distracted by other characters, but if I had to choose one it'd be her.

Day 5: Favorite male character and why.

Hands down, its Ron. I'm a sucker for redheads. Not exactly sure why. I just am. Ron always shows his bravery but doesn't flaunt it. He’s smart when he wants to be and so completely clueless in other respects that you just want to pet him on the head and give him a giant hersey's candy bar.

Day 6: What House would you want to be in?
Hufflepuffs are particularly good finders! Yeeeeeeah. That’d be me. I’m absolutely a Hufflepuff. I’m kind of ditzy and get distracted easily. I’m not really a leader and not really a evil dark lord. I’m smart but not like genius smart. I’m just kind of here. Thus I am undeniably a Hufflepuff.

Day 7: Favorite female character and why?
Hermione. (I know... Ron and Hermione... can you tell what my answer is going to be for Day 12?) She's not afraid to stand up for herself, or be smart when others tease her for it. She's an overachiever and if it weren't for her, Harry wouldn't have made it this far. I love that she isn't afraid to call Harry out when he's being a jerkface (which lets face it... happens a lot), and she's a bookworm. I heart bookworms.

Day 8: What do you think would be your favorite lesson?
Charms. I think I'd find it interesting to learn the ways to wield and handle a wand. Though I probably wouldn't be as obnoxious as Hermione in this subject. I do think it'd be fun to learn it. "Its levi-O-sa, not levio-SAA."

Day 9: Least favorite male character.
Um....... I guess Cedric. He was kind of pompous. Maybe its just me. But I always wanted to punch him in the face. Plus he's just this spare guy that is always hanging around when Harry doesn't need a guy. He's just a spare.

Day 10: Horcruxes or Hallows?
Hallows. Hallows are just... AWESOME!

Day 11: What character would you say you are most like.
A mixture of Ron and Hermione. I'm a little bit of a bookworm like Hermione, but I also enjoy the smaller simpler things like Ron.

Day 12: Favorite Relationship.

Really? Do you have to ask? *sigh* Fine. I am without a doubt a hopelessly addicted Ron/Hermione shipper. These two are my OTP (One True Pairing). They are the ones that got me so addicted to shipping in the first place. It's really quite pathetic. I just adore all their sexual tension and the funny ways they act around eachother. Ron obliviousness to Hermione and the way they have a who-can-have-a-better-date war in the sixth book never fails to make my little shipper heart flutter.

Day 13: Least favorite movie.
The fifth one. Though granted the fifth book was my least favorite too. I kind of hated how Harry was just a jerk through the whole thing. I just want to smack him. Plus you know... the ending.

Day 14: Team Voldemort or Team Harry?
Lol. Team Harry.

Day 15: Who would be your best friends at Hogwarts? (three only)
I think Luna, Ron and Hermione. I'd probably end up slapping Harry (or wanting to slap him) far to often to be his friend.

Day 16: Favorite professor?
Rumbleroar Dumbledore and McGonagall. Dumbledore always believed in Harry and always tried to help him. McGonagall, never gave up on Harry and always did anything she could to help him. She's always been one of my favorite characters.

Day 17: Are you excited about The Deathly Hallows movie or scared it won't do the book justice?
Both. But I've learned from the previous movies not to read the book before I see the movie. Otherwise I'm annoyed and very depressed. I know that they can't do everything, but at least they're trying a little by making it into two movies.

Day 18: Least favorite book?
The Fifth book. JK Rowling, kept to the teenage angst very well and showed that a fifteen year old would be annoying and kind of jerk to all his friends.

Day 19: Do you prefer the books or films?
Books. Definitely.

Day 20: If you had to meet one member of the cast, who would it be?
Really, I'd be happy just to meet ANY of them, but if I had to choose, I'd choose Rupert Grint or Emma Watson. I really admire Emma Watson for being so determined to be a normal kid after the Harry Potter series, and Rupert Grint would just be AWESOME to meet.


Day 21: Out of all the characters that died, if you could bring one back, who would it be?
SPOILERSPOILERSPOILER Alert!
If you want to know the answer to this and HAVEN'T read the book, highlight over the next few words to see my answer.
Answer: Fred. I was surprised at how much his death made me cry.

Day 22: Harry Potter or Twilight?
Harry Potter. No contest.

Day 23: Any part of the books/movies that makes you cry?
Pretty much all of the seventh book made me cry.

Day 24: Any particular scene you wished would have been put in the movie but it wasn't?
The explanation of the Mauraders Map in the third movie. It would have made things make a lot more sense.

Day 25: Nineteen years later. Are you happy how it turned out, or do you wish something was different, ie Neville married Luna?
Do I wish that Neville married Luna? Yes. But am I glad that JK Rowling didn't do it just because all the fans wanted it? YES. I'm very happy with how they ended the series and how everything really turned out. I'm very happy JK Rowling didn't let the fans get to her, and that she played it out very characteristically.

Day 26: If you could be able to work one spell without a wand what would it be?
Lumos. Then maybe I wouldn't stub my toes so much.

Day 27: Would you rather own The Invisibility Cloak, The Resurrection Stone or The Elder Wand?
The Invisibility Cloak. It'd just be cool.

Day 28: Do you listen to Wizard Wrock, what do you think about it?
I've heard about it, but never actually listened to it.

Day 29: Did you enjoy A Very Potter Musical/Sequel?
Judging by the various Very Potter Musical referances in this, its easy to see that I love that musical. Its brilliant, creative, and HILARIOUS. If you haven't seen it yet, you must. Go here and watch it. There's a little bit of language, but anything REALLY bad, is bleeped out. Also, keep in mind... its like three hours long.


Day 30: What affect has Harry Potter made on your life and how much does it mean to you?
Okay, here we go.

I didn't read Harry Potter until I was in seventh grade. I went and saw the movie at the dollar theater with my friend Sarah. After the movie, I was determined to read the books. And quickly fell in love.

Harry Potter is the reason I started reading so much. Its the reason I discovered Meg Cabot, its the reason I realized that I liked to write. Its the reason I have the friends that I do, if it weren't for Harry Potter, I wouldn't have the friends that I have, HP is the thing that most of my friends an I bonded over the most. Its the reason I'm so interested in graphic design. Designing fan art and other thing similar, is now one of my favorite things to do.

Harry Potter is the one of the first thing that my little cousin, Shannon, and I bonded over. Which in turn, made her want to read more.

With out a doubt, is the story that defined my generation. It will always be close to my heart and I know that I will be crying when I walk out of the theater in both parts of the last movie.