Contact Me: robinmasse@gmail.com
Find me on Facebook under- Its An Animated Life

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Knots

Monday, February 22, 2010

Robin Gets Innovative


With a pair of pliers, a circle cookie cutter, and a few cuss words, I was able to make my very own cookie cutter. Yay me!

Bone Soup and Hard Tack



This is what it ended up looking like.

Treasure Planet, Bone Soup and Hard Tack



Sunday, February 21, 2010

Treasure Planet February 21, 2010

Treasure Planet

What's The Story: A troubled teenaged boy, Jim, finds a treasure map he along with a dangerous crew of Pirates travel the sky searching for Treasure Planet. Along the way Jim develops a paternal friendship with a pirate leading him to choose between honour and the law.

Memorable Quote:
Jim: I met this old cyborg and he taught me that I could chart my own course, that's what I'm going to do.
John Silver: And what do you see off that bow of yours
Jim: A future.

Lessons:
Sometimes you need to give people space to prove their own worth
Work builds character
No matter what other people think, you must be in control of your own destiny
Even criminals hold wisdom and potential
Brains over Brawn

Main Challenges:
Learn to tie some sailor knots
Make a treasure hunt

(swab the deck while speaking pirate)

Attitude:
Adventurous, honourable, curious, daring, innovative

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Monday, February 15, 2010

Statement of Intent

December 22, 2008 I got to fulfil one of my life long dreams, I boarded a plane and flew to Walt Disney world. Okay, so its not the most daring dream to have, but it was based on my first love, the wonderful world of Disney. Before stepping foot on the hallowed grounds, I was told how magical the magic kingdom was. I had no problem believing the hype, since I had already long ago fallen deeply into the enchanted spell that Disney casts.

I was awe struck the moment my family and I crashed through the gates, of course after the purse inspection “We're looking for mousetraps sir.” The security guard told my husband, it seems that everyone at Disney has a bit of a silly streak. Four days at Disney, sparked my inner child, which as of late has been far more of an outie than an inny, and brought to life for me the idea that humans were designed to be happy not miserable. One year later the magic of Disney had infused into my very being, making my life seem magical, as though anything is possible.

The wonderful world of Disney has captured my imagination since as far back as I can remember. I, at the tender age of 35 still excitedly anticipate the opening of every Disney Animated Feature with the zeal of a five year old girl. I wait, with bated breath, for the pearls of wisdom that I have lived my life by. Disney is not just a multi-billion dollar franchise for me, its a way of life, a Tao, if you will.

If I were to be completely honest with myself, I would have to say that the wonderful world of Disney lives within the greatest parts of who I am. The parts that I am most proud of, are the parts that are filled to the brim with idea's and dreams of a Mickey Mouse world where we live a peaceful existence, and if there should be a conflict, let it at least be humourous. Yes folks, I aspire to have the heart of a Mouse.

New Years Resolutions

January of 2009 I made a new year resolution that I was going to be happy, no matter what my circumstances, I was going to find the bright side of things. This was the only New Year Resolution that I have ever kept. I made some difficult decisions, lost and had the most pitiful year for my business I have ever had since opening up my photo studio. My leg was mysteriously injured making walking, climbing stairs and almost all forms of exercises difficult, and painful, yet I still remained happy as could be as I joyfully held to my promise.

January 1, 2010, when most people were thinking about giving something up, my mind went to missing Walt Disney World and longing for the faith, trust and pixy dust of the Magic Kingdom. My mind began to wander about what to give up or to add to my life, when inspiration hit. “What if I tried to live Disney? What if I watched every Disney Animated Feature, and tried to live according to the lessons from that film?” I laughed, thinking about some of the absurd things that happen in Disney films, the idea was just crazy enough to, not only be insightful, but a whole lot of fun.

Lets Break it Down

It was decided, I was going to live Disney but where do I start? What would be the parameters? I found a list of the Disney Animated Features there were 49 in all, with the 50th coming to theatres in November of 2010. I had fifty movies to work with. The first step was to watch every movie, evaluate it for its lesson, then create a challenge for me to do based on each film and decipher how I would live Disney for 50 weeks.

I decided that there should be a base for how I behave, throughout the entire process, I should take the basic undercurrent for all Disney heroes and heroines and try to emulate them. 49 animated features later I have come to see that there are a few attributes that make up the basic Disney Hero/Heroine: they are Happy, Kind, Compassionate, Brave, Silly, and Playfully Mischievous. Whenever a hero or heroine feels sad or angry or afraid or happy, especially happy, they sing. So I will be a singing, happy, kind, compassionate, brave, silly, playfully mischievous, person and hopefully, I will survive this experiment without getting mauled or maimed.

This blog and Facebook will be my way to inform the unsuspecting public of my actions by posting the Disney Animated film name and the name of the Challenge, I will also prepare a meal or some type of food based on each film. I will write about my experiences, perhaps also photograph myself living Disney. This is a social experiment, looking through the eyes of Disney Animated Films, I hope to answer for myself the question can someone live according to Disney and will it bring them joy?

The Scenery

Let me paint the scenery of where I intend to do this social experiment. St Thomas Ontario is known for three things, a rather large mental hospital, trains and for being the place where Jumbo the Elephant of PT Barnum Circus met his untimely end by way of one of those famous trains. Yes, Jumbo the Elephant the same Jumbo that inspired the story Dumbo the elephant.

I chose to live in St Thomas, and as the locals often ask. Why? I think if I were to be candidly honest without sounding like I should visit that rather large mental hospital, I think I chose St Thomas because of its quaint houses and the little hills and trees that pepper the town and the great big elephant butt that greets all who come into the main street.

Yes I am aware

Many people have reminded me that Walt Disney was not perfect and that there are issues within the company, this is not about the reality of Walt Disney, the man with all his human traits. Walt Disney may have had his fair share of skeletons in his closet, we can not deny that everyone has a darker side, and of course, Walt is no different. The point of this exercise is to live up to the Disney ideals put forth in the animated films.

Disney Tenets to Live By

Educate yourself
Use your brain over brawn
Be Kind, Grateful, Forgiving, Joyful, Compassionate, Charitable
Be Respectful of Nature
Have faith that nothing is impossible
Dream big
Be curious,
Use your imagination.
Don't be afraid to be Playfully, Mischievous and Silly
Above all Love Life

Hypothesis

My hypothesis is that this experiment will bring happiness to myself and others around me. There will be people who will absolutely hate what I am doing, those that will not understand it, and still those who will think that I am just plane crazy. I hope to inspire happiness in others the way that a mouse inspired me.

Schedule

Treasure Planet:
February 21, 2010
Bone Soup and Hard Tack

Cinderella:
February 28, 2010
Chicken Florentine, Twice baked potatoes, Arugula salad

Alice in Wonderland:
March 7, 2010
Stuffed Mushrooms

Fantasia:
March 14, 2010
Lavender chocolate chip cookies

The Three Caballeros:
March 21, 2010
Guacamole

Beauty and the Beast:
March 28, 2010
Baguettes

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs:
April 4, 2010
Apple pie

One Hundred and One Dalmatians:
April 11, 2010
Stuffed peppers (Croatian/Dalmatian) style

Bambi:
April 18, 2010
Clear Mushroom soup

Melody Time:
April 25, 2010
Apple dumplings

Peter Pan :
May 2, 2010
Fairy cakes (cup cakes)

Aladdin:
May 9, 2010
Falafel, Tabouli

Home on the Range:
May 16, 2010
Roasted chicken with biscuits

Fantasia 2000:
May 23, 2010
Banana Flambe

The Sword in the Stone :
May 30, 2010
Yorkshire pudding and Roast beef

The Rescuers Down Under:
June 6, 2010
Anzac Biscuits

Sleeping Beauty:
June 13, 2010
Blueberry cobbler

Hercules:
June 20, 2010
Fish in a Spicy Red Sauce & roasted potatoes

Lady and the Tramp:
June 27, 2010
spaghetti and meatballs

The Fox and the Hound:
July 4, 2010
Eggs bacon and hash browns with biscuits

The Lion King:
July 11, 2010
Pepper soup (Nigeria)

The Princess and the Frog:
July 18, 2010
Beniet, Gumbo

The Black Cauldron:
July 25, 2010
Mawmeny - Chicken stew in trenchers

Robin Hood:
August 1, 2010
Beef Stew

The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad:
August 8, 2010
Fried chicken, pumpkin pie

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh:
August 15, 2010
Honey chicken

Bolt:
August 22, 2010
Hero Sandwiches

The Emperor's New Groove:
August 29, 2010
Humitas & Garlic Quinoa

The Aristocats:
September 5, 2010
Vichyssoise

Dumbo:
September 12, 2010
Peanut butter cookies

Dinosaur:
September 19, 2010
Dinosaur print cookies with banana cream filling

Make Mine Music:
September 26, 2010
Banana Split

Tarzan:
October 3, 2010
Yassa Chicken and lemons with Injara Bread

Pocahontas:
October 10, 2010
Algonquian Nokake

Pinocchio:
October 17, 2010
Gnocchi

Meet the Robinsons:
October 24, 2010
Root beer floats

The Great Mouse Detective:
October 31, 2010
Cheese crumpets

Chicken Little:
November 7, 2010
Acorn Pancakes

Oliver & Company:
November 14, 2010
Kosher Hot dogs (grilled)

Atlantis: The Lost Empire
November 21, 2010
Icelandic beef recipe

Mulan:
November 28, 2010
Chinese Dumplings

The Little Mermaid:
December 5, 2010
Stuffed Fish

Fun and Fancy Free :
December 12, 2010
Pancakes

The Rescuers:
December 19, 2010
New York Bagel and cream cheese

Brother Bear:
December 26, 2010
Baked Salmon

The Hunchback of Notre Dame:
January 2, 2011
Tarte Médiévale France

Saludos Amigos:
January 9, 2011
Beef Picadillo (Argentina)

The Jungle Book:
January 16, 2011
Indian, Naan Raita, meat Masala

Lilo & Stitch:
January 23, 2011
Pineapple upside down cake

Rapunzel (Tangled)
January 30, 2011
?????

avandia lawsuits