The music is my life // Everybody dance now!

The new year is here, and we all made it! 
Jackie and I decided to spend it at Disney. We went through our options over the past month or so and every time we thought we may have had a solid plan, we would decide it just wasn't in us to do it. Downtown just seemed like a crazy drunken mess. I wanted to spend today fresh! Not hungover. I also didn't want to worry about how to get home or worse - driving in traffic with people who were under the influence. So... Disney it was! 

You know, I will say, I was a little nervous about going. Sure, I can make anything fun, but would it really just for little kids and families?? We decided on our way there we would stop and get some shots and take them when we got to the Magic Kindom. Shhhh. Don't tell Mickey and the gang! ;) When we got into the park we were met with probably the biggest crowd I've ever experienced. People were everywhere. And guess what?! It wasn't all little kids and families! 

Magic Kingdom was literally one giant dance party. They played Top 40 music all throughout the park as well as hits from the 80's and 90's. If you know me in real life - you know any opportunity to dance and I'm in. I think we danced 90% of the time. Any time we were walking, waiting in line, standing around - dance! 

When it came time to stand and wait for fireworks, we were a little bummed. We were pretty far away and the people we were around seemed like big time grumps. Everyone was laying down, sleeping, sitting down. No smiles. No laughter. No dancing. Then the lady in front of me started to dance with me and I was happy again. 

At 11:50pm the fireworks started. It was a special holiday themed show and the fireworks were not only in front of us, but behind us. Love!  11:58pm the fireworks and Mickey and Minnie came over the speakers to start a count down. 

At midnight everyone cheered, blew their noise makers, kissed, hugged and then there were fireworks. EVERYWHERE. Infront, behind, to the left, to the right -- fireworks. We were surrounded in beautiful fireworks. Everyone was in such awe. I started to tear up at just how beautiful it all was. The family that was dancing with us started to hug us. "Happy New year! Happy New Year! Happy New year!" Hugs all around. Love all around. Happiness all around. Truly magical. 

I realize this is an awful firework picture, but I decided to take it all in and enjoy the beauty rather than get a nice shot. :)

Happy Hearts, 

Alex

C'mon baby, let's ride. Let's escape to the great sunshine.

Winter Wonderland Ferris wheel with friends.

My darling, 2013, it's so lovely to meet you.
I don't do resolutions. I think people either love them or hate them (and then talk awful they are). I'm just kind of neutral to them. But this year, I think I'd like to make some!

I mean, what's the harm? My life really doesn't have any order. So I like the idea of throwing out some suggestions, creating some direction and seeing where I go from there. I mean, if it doesn't all come to fruition - that's ok! I had good intentions! Right?!

I think my friends trying to describe me would say things like, "free spirit" and "go with the flow". So, I write out these resolutions with my personality in mind. :) They are not solid.

• Read more. My entire life I was such a book worm and as I got older I just stopped. I don't know what happened, but I would like to read at least one book a month. I hope to bump that count up to more than one. But we'll start out simple. 
• Serious business. A close friend of mine and I decided on a whim to open up a business together. The more we sat on this, the more I realized, this wasn't some hazy daydream talk- I really want to do this. I would like to spend this next year researching, mapping, and taking real steps towards this goal. I know I can do it, I just need to put my big girl pants on! 
• Stay Healthy. I'm a vegetarian, but I find myself teetering. I want to make it my personal goal to stay true to my dietary needs and wants. No animals for this gal! I'm also super bad about vitamins. I need more of those bad boys!
• Run!!! This was huge for me last year. I pushed through a wall I had never pushed through in my entire life, and realized I loved to run! I had to stop after a knee injury and I never got back into it making me a sad panda. Starting up running this year means so much to me! 
• Open up. I realized late last year that while a lot of people say I'm kind and caring, I will hit a wall at a certain point emotionally and refuse to open up. Which I think can sometimes come off as me being cold/distant/etc. If I'd just open up more, push through that wall, and say and do what I'm really feeling, I feel like I'd be on top of the World! 
• Go on adventures. I lost my spontaneity a bit and I really need to stop that. Make it happen, Alex. We really can't guarantee time! 
• Financially sound. Ugh. I need to really start putting more in that little savings account of mine. Even if that means I have to live the broke life every now and then. It's so worth it. This will help me all-around really. 

And there we have it. An odd number for an odd year. Let's have a solid year, folks!

Happy Hearts,

Alex

We're already 15 days into 2012!

Oh, my! It's been a while.  The holidays were lovely and ringing in the new year was great. I realize that with a new year comes a ton of (mostly unrealistic) resolutions. Also, "This is MY year!" or "This is THE year" all over social networking sites. I've sure been guilty of this. However, I kind of stopped doing it because I realized I was hyping myself up for a huge let down. And well, that can be a bummer.

BUT. I can honestly say I feel like there is a lot of positive energy surrounding 2012. Now, I'm not going to jinx myself with those crazy resolutions (I'm going to go the gym every day, volunteer three times a week & diet), but I am looking forward to a really great year. I feel like if anything spectacular is going to happen, this is going to be the year.

I started out just right by allowing people in my past to re-enter. Finally learning how to remember the past without holding a grudge or allowing it to bring back unhappy feelings. Allowing it to truly be a lesson and educate me and still being able to be open and connected to the other person without those harsh feelings attached. It's a lovely feeling.

I think this year I'm looking forward to being connected more to my friends, loved ones, and the Universe in general. So many of us are just walking through life like Zombies. Not being present in every moment. So, if I had to make a resolution and without it being something I know I can't obtain I suppose it would be to stop and smell those dang flowers.

Hello, 2012. Let's have a swell year. :)

everybody's gotta love someone, but i just wanna love you, my dear.

I cannot believe October is almost over. It's actually kind of bugging me out. I feel like in a blink, it'll be Christmas time and then the New Year. I get mild anxiety when New Year's rolls around. I start to look back on the year and wonder if I made it worth it, what I did that stands out, was it amazing? Did I finally have that knock- out year?? Hopefully I can ring in the new year this year with special people and it will be fun, fun, fun. :) 

I went to see The Drums last night. I hadn't heard of them until recently when a friend suggested I listen. We didn't get to the actual show until the band came on. It was good. There were a couple of moments when everyone around me and the crowd was just a blur. Even the band. And all I heard was the music and the feelings that it brought. I love when that happens. Literally getting lost in music, and feeling everyone's energy. 

Tomorrow I'm going to a Halloween party after work. I can't wait. I'm going to dress up as a sugar skull. I kind of have an idea or two on how to do the makeup, and I've watched some tutorials online. But I've yet to practice. So, let's hope I can pull this off tomorrow or I'll end up going as a clown. 

There's going to be a costume contest, so let's hope I win! ;)    I mean, it's cute and crafty, yeah?! I mean, it's not your typical slutty bumble bee, but that's why it's so grand! 

I'm going to attempt to watch American Horror Story now. I've heard a lot about it, but I'm a big time scaredy cat (ironic for someone who loves Halloween and all things creepy). Hopefully I don't end up so scared that I'm going to bed watching the Disney Channel. Yes, I'll admit it. 

Happy, happy weekend to all. For anyone partying, be safe!