5 Disneybound Ideas: Jack Skellington, Aurora, Tinkerbell, Maleficent, Sully

Looking for more great Disneybound ideas for your favorite Disney characters? Of course you are! Let's get right to it (start here for tips on getting started with Disneybounding!).

Jack Skellington

An easy closet-inspired look, because sometimes the best source for a Disneybound is your closet! I've had the striped vest since high school that I paired with a white tank, black suspender skirt, and knee-high stockings. For a more daring look, I chose dark lipstick and added Jack's stripes around my mouth. I also painted my nails black and white with black stripes.

Jack earrings are from FemmeDeBloom, build your own headband from Disney, nuiMo and Tsum Tsum technically from Disney Japan.

Aurora

I'd done Snow White, Ariel, Cinderella, and Belle, so I knew Aurora would come at some point. The only thing I needed to buy were the earrings (FemmeDeBloom), necklace (Hot Topic), and the dark pink top (Shein) that I paired over a white tank, because I for one refuse to go strapless while walking 10+ miles.

Nails of course had to be alternating pink and blue!

Tinkerbell

I'd wanted to do Tinkerbell for a long time and finally found a dress on Shein with a jagged edge on the bottom. All I needed to do was put my hair up in a bun, add some flower clips around it, and pair with a Tinkerbell plush and my Peter Pan Loungefly.

Maleficent

From the moment I saw this shirt at BoxLunch, I knew I had to wear it to Disneyland. They perfectly matched Disney's Maleficent ears. This was an easy look just pairing some black arm sleeves and knee-high socks, plus some green and purple hair extensions. I accessorized with my Aurora nuiMo, earrings, and necklace.

Monsters Inc.

Another look I created around ears! All I needed was a purple shirt (which also does double duty for my Rapunzel bound) and earrings (FemmeDeBloom) to pair with an existing blue lace skirt I've used for my Cinderella bound.

Hope these looks have inspired you to create your own Disneybounds! (And if you want to recreate any of mine, go for it!).

10 Things to Consider Before Moving to Japan

If you're like me and have had a long-time infatuation with Japan, you've probably thought about visiting or even moving there someday. Living or studying abroad is a great way to expand your horizons and seek adventure. But before you pack your bags, take time to consider 10 important things that will determine whether a long-term stay is right for you.

Blackout now avalable in paperback!

Exciting news: my novel Blackout is now available in paperback on Amazon for all the hard copy lovers out there!

Let's face it: there's nothing like the smell of a new book, the glossy cover, the feel of turning the pages, being able to see your progress, admiring it on your bookshelf with the rest of your collection, and even the simple pleasure of using a fun bookmark. Now you can head to your local coffee shop or cozy up at home and enjoy all the feels!

Disneybounding ideas

Welcome back for more Disneybounding ideas, the popular activity both in and outside the parks to show off your favorite Disney fandoms by dressing as your favorite character using everyday clothes and accessories.

Loki

First up is my favorite God of Mischief, Loki! I've done a few different bounds as he is my all-time favorite Marvel character (dare I say Avenger).

New book Blackout available now!

While I love blogging about Japan and Disney, I'm also a creative writer on the side! My novella Blood Magic is available on Amazon, and now I'm releasing my first novel called Blackout through Golden Storyline Books.

It's been a work in progress for more than 10 years since I wrote it back in the early 2010s. (Which is how long I've been trying to get published! So long, in fact, that the original manuscript had the protagonist using a (gasp) flip phone!).

If you like speculative fiction set in a futuristic world with a side of action, mystery, and romance with a strong, kick-ass female protagonist, this one's for you! Head to Amazon now to purchase!

Virtual launch party: Blackout

I'm thrilled to announce the launch of my debut novel, Blackout. Join me on Zoom Saturday, March 23^rd at 1:30 PT/3:30 CT for the virtual launch!

During the launch party I will be introducing the book, reading an excerpt, and holding a Q&A session. I will also be giving away 2 FREE copies of my book!

Zoom

March 23rd

1:30 PT/3:50 CT

Meeting ID: 812 4430 4947

Passcode: dz5Lrd

Read a description of Blackout below.

In a world without sunlight, darkness means death.

There are four main things humans need to survive: water, food, air – and sunlight.

Somewhere along humanity’s existence, humans have lost the ability to absorb sunlight on their own and must rely on the use of solar discs. There are a full 17 hours of sun a day, astronomists are celebrated as celebrities – if not gods – and no one dares go out after dark, or you may be dead before dawn’s first rays.

After a high-stakes career, Roth’s job in the Sun Regulatory Affairs department is safe – but dull. When black patches began appearing around the city that occupy space for crucial sunlight, alarm sets fire throughout the nation.

In a stroke of fate, a boy with ghost-like white hair named Carrow appears, and the department tasks Roth with his care and protection. This boy is one of the last of a long-lost people known as the “Children of Light,” who don't need solar discs to absorb sunlight and have faded into all but legend.

When Roth discovers Carrow can make the black spots disappear, news spreads in a frenzy, to the surprise of the city’s top astronomers who are supposed to be the authority on the case. Dissension brews among them as Carrow’s identity and subsequent popularity skyrockets as the world’s savior.

But soon the black spots are growing faster than ever, nearly everyone is criticizing Roth, and pressure is mounting from all sides. Will Roth and Carrow be able to restore balance, or could this mean the end of everything they know?

Japanese Secrets to Health, Fitness, and Longevity

The Japanese population is known to be one of the healthiest on the planet, with low obesity rates, high life expectancy rates (84.95, and up to nearly 88 years for women), and one of the world's highest concentration of centenarians (if you've watched the recent Blue Zone documentary series on Netflix, you'll be familiar with how Okinawans make up a big portion of global centenarians).

Meanwhile, in the US obesity rates soar at 41.9% nationwide, and average life expectancy is considerably shorter at 77.5 years. Many other countries also experience similar health statistics that are concerning. Let's explore Japan's secrets to staying healthy and living long.

Have you caught the Disneybounding bug? Whether you're a regular at the Disney theme parks or look forward to that special day a few times a year, Disneybounding is a fun way to show off your love for your favorite Disney characters. If you're new to Disneybounding, follow these tips to plan your first bound, or get some fresh ideas to up your bounding game!

If you’ve followed my blogs for a while now, you’ll know I’m a huge Disney fan. Now that I have an annual pass, I’m at Disneyland at least twice a month – and no, I never get tired of it.

Besides the rides, seasonal food, entertainment, and souvenirs, one of my favorite things about going to Disneyland is Disneybounding, which is like cosplaying but using everyday clothes to recreate inspired looks based on your favorite characters. The fun is planning your outfit from clothes, ears, bags, and accessories. No one’s Disneybound looks quite like another, and that’s the fun of it – showing off your unique take on a look! I always get excited to wear a new outfit and take photos at the park.

Here's a look at some of my favorite Disneybounds (they're all princesses!).

Happy Holidays from Disneyland! Part 3: Characters, Shopping, and Food!

Now that we've seen Disneyland and California Adventure at its holiday best in Part 1 and Part 2, what about all the fun characters, food and goodies, and shopping to be done? Let's dive right in!

Characters

Although full-blown parades as we used to know them aren't back yet, you'll be happy to know that you can still catch mini parades and appearances of some of Disney's most popular characters!

Happy Holidays from Disneyland! Part 2: California Adventure and Spider-Man Webslingers!

Welcome back to part 2 of Happy Holidays at Disneyland Resort! Let's pop over to see what's going on at California Adventure, from holiday decorations, the new Spider-Man Webslingers ride, and Cars Land. Quick note: the new Genie+ and Lightning Lane services have launched at the Disney parks, so you can shorten your wait times! Read more here.

California Adventure

DCA is currently drawing visitors with its Festival of Holidays. a "seasonal celebration of diverse cultural festivities with music, food and fun for all, from November 12, 2021 to January 9, 2022!" This includes holidays such as Christmas, Navidad, Hanukkah, Diwalki, Kwanzaa, and Three Kings' Day (special ticketed event running only from January 3-9). You can spot special musical performers from holiday toy drummers to a capella, jazz, and rock.

Exciting news has landed, Disney lovers! Visitors have been bummed for a long time that FastPass and MaxPass never returned upon the reopening of the California parks, but new versions have officially launched! The only caveat is they are no longer free as FastPass used to be.

These new services are called Genie+ and Lightning Lanes.

Disneyland App Genie Service

There is now a complementary Genie service in the Disneyland app which lets you set up your travel party and select your interests and preferences to build out an itinerary and tip board. You can then view "My day" and the tip board listing your reservations and other things you've indicated interest in with their event/wait times.

Happy Holidays from Disneyland!

Hello Disney lovers, and welcome to this special holiday edition! I'll take you through the full experience of the holidays at Disneyland and California Adventure 2021. If you're interested in my full review of Halloween at Disneyland 2021, check it out!

I can't remember if I've been to Disneyland California before during the holiday season due to avoiding higher crowds/prices (I have, however, been at Disney Japan. Did you know you can find mistletoe there?). Anyway, I was thrilled to get an inside look thanks to my new key pass!

Don't let the holiday season discourage you from going: with the limited capacity in place, crowds have been manageable even when I went on Saturdays! I've heard reports of barely any people a

Christmas runs through Jan. 9, so check out those reservation dates and book while you can!

Without further ado, let's dive into the lights, festive treats, and special experiences that await!

Disneyland

As you enter the park, you'll enjoy the special snowflake design over the entrance gates, which of course lights up beautifully at night.

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