New Frozen Theory: Elsa's "Other" Power

So the other day while I was watching Frozen for the 800th time, a thought came across my mind. Once this theory was in my head I had to run to my roommate's room to explain my theory, and even she agreed it sounded quite plausible. I think it's 150% safe to say that everyone would agree that Elsa has magical powers. But what most people may not pick up on, is that fact that she may have a second magical power.
My theory here is that, in addition to her obvious snow and ice manipulation ability, Elsa is also clairvoyant. 
So here is my reasoning behind this theory. Any time something bad is about to happen in Frozen, Elsa always tries to prevent whatever it is before anyone else has any idea something is about to happen. To start with, at the beginning of the movie when Anna wakes Elsa up to play, Elsa tries to turn Anna away by telling her to go back to sleep. My theory behind this is that Elsa had a bad feeling about what could happen when the two sisters played with Elsa's powers without adult supervision. And then wouldn't you know that after Anna convinces Elsa to build a snowman with her that Elsa ends up accidentally striking Anna with her powers.

Elsa trying to turn Anna away as children.

Elsa was clearly trying to protect Anna, because she knew something bad would happen. After the accident, Elsa hid herself away in her room to prevent another accident from happening, because she knew something bad would happen again if she was near Anna while her powers were still uncontrolled.

Elsa telling Anna to go away during "Do You Want to Build a Snowman?"

Even once she runs away, Elsa is still trying to make Anna keep her distance, because she knew she would end up hurting her younger sister again. Elsa tells Anna to leave during "For the First Time in Forever Reprise", which leads up to Elsa accidentally striking Anna again with her powers after receiving the shocking news about how she accidentally created an eternal winter everywhere.
 Elsa unsuccessfully tried to make Anna leave before she could hurt her, which leads her to create the giant snow monster, Marshmallow, to force Anna to leave so that she wouldn't be able to hurt her any further than she already had.

Marshmallow forcing Anna, Kristoff, and Olaf out of the castle.

I also need to point out how worried Elsa was about her parents going on their two week journey in the beginning of the movie. Everyone assumes that this worry was due to Elsa being so self conscious and terrified of her own uncontrolled powers, a theory also shared by Anna and Elsa's parents who respond to Elsa's comment of, "Do you have to go?" with, "You'll be fine, Elsa." Elsa wasn't worried about not being able to control her powers for two weeks by herself, Elsa was worried about the safety of her parents, again due to a bad feeling she no doubt had about their journey. 

Elsa's conversation with her parents about them leaving.

Finally, and almost most importantly, was Elsa's gut instinct about Hans. Upon being told of Anna and Hans' engagement, Elsa would not bless the marriage and told Anna that she could not marry a man she had just met. While everyone sees this as Disney's attempt of making up for their previous princess movies in which the main heroine falls in love with a man she just met, I believe Elsa had a bad feeling about Hans from the beginning, causing her to disapprove of the marriage. Elsa would have no doubt witnessed Anna and Hans spending time together at least once or twice during the party after her coronation, which would have shown her how well the two were getting along. Also, it is not uncommon for young royals to enter into arranged marriages without having even met the person in which they'd be marrying. I can tell you with complete certainty that Anna and Elsa's parents wouldn't have disapproved of Anna and Hans' engagement the way that Elsa did, because this was considered very much the norm of young royalty for the longest time, especially since up until recently princesses were only to marry princes. Due to all these facts, I can only assume that Elsa's clear disapproval of the two young "lovers" engagement was that she knew it wouldn't end well. Elsa even wanted to talk to Anna in private to discuss this further with her, but Anna refused. I'm sure that if Anna had taken the few minutes to talk to Elsa in private that Elsa would have explained her reservations about Hans.

Elsa disapproving of Anna and Hans' engagement.

I also feel the need to point out that Elsa did not show any disapproval or reservations about Kristoff. The first time Elsa met Kristoff it was brief and when he was only a friend of Anna's for the past day. The second time she met him was at the end of the movie when he was clearly a love interest after Anna had only known him for two days, yet Elsa did not disapprove. In fact, Elsa made Kristoff and Sven the "Official Arendelle Ice Master and Deliverer" and even approved of Anna buying them a brand new, state of the art sled, as well as a brand new lute, since Kristoff's old one was broken while trying to outrun wolves earlier in the movie.

Anna's gift to Kristoff: a brand new sled and lute. 

Elsa didn't disapprove of Kristoff, because she had no reason to do so. Kristoff didn't turn out to be a complete jerk the way that Hans did, causing Elsa to not have any bad feelings about him or reason to forbid the relationship.
I may be thinking too much into this, but I totally believe this theory is 100% plausible.
Thanks for reading.

Parallels Between Disney's Frozen and the Broadway Musical Wicked

Ever since the release of Disney's Frozen, the Internet has ignited with stories, artwork, comparisons, and all out admiration at the similarities and parallels that exist between Frozen and the Broadway musical Wicked. The majority of these comparisons and parallels have been in regards to Frozen's Queen Elsa and Wicked's Elphaba (also known as The Wicked Witch of the West) or "Elsaba" as the two have become known together to their fans.

(left): Queen Elsa and Elphaba mash up.     (right): "Elsaba".

Due to their undeniable similarities, fans of both Frozen and Wicked alike have adopted both of these beloved heroines into their hearts and had their share of fun finding various ways to showcase the traits and circumstances that these two young women share.

Parallels  between Wicked and Frozen.

Starting with the most obvious of similarities between Elphaba and Elsa, both women have magical abilities, the likes of which are uncommon in both Arendale and Oz, which causes a great deal of friction, fear, conflict, and obstacles for both young women. Both of these young women are essentially shut off from the world, due to their differences. For Elphaba it was her green skin, while for Elsa it was her uncontrolled magical powers. Both of these women know how it feels to be ostracized, to not have anyone there for them. Elsa's parents died when she was a teenager, while Elphaba's mother died during her younger sister Nessarose's birth and her estranged father never supported Elphaba the way he supported Nessarose. Both Elsa and Elphaba are constantly sought after by a caring, confused, well-meaning friend (Anna and Galinda) that in essence is their complete polar opposite, but also their very best and closest friend.

Another great parallel between Wicked's Elphaba and Frozen's Elsa is their decision to run away from the world in which they lived. Both Elphaba and Elsa have a grand, show-stopping moment when they decide to leave behind the world they knew and in search of a different, far off place where they can live freely in peace, although both realize it means they will have to do it alone. Queen Elsa decides to "Let It Go" as she flees Arendale and creates her wonderful icy palace of solitude on the North Mountain. Elphaba decides to "Defy Gravity" and run away after the rumored death of her love, Fiyero, and the false string of incriminating rumors spread by Madame Morrible and the Wizard against her. The one difference here is that Elphaba attempts to convince Galinda to run away with her, while Elsa decides she must run away alone if she is to protect her little sister, Anna.

Parallels between Frozen's "Let It Go" and Wicked's "Defying Gravity".

Both of these women are incredibly self-conscious, while also being amazingly headstrong and completely independent. Both women were alienated, misunderstood, and have felt true and heart wrenching fear. Elsa and Elphaba both tried to do whatever they could to help others and to be well behaved, kind, graceful young women. Elsa was hidden away from the world by her parents in an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to allow her time to take control over her magical powers. But once Elsa's powers were discovered she was immediately seen as a threat and an outcast to the kingdom of Arendale, and was eventually framed for the supposed murder of Princess Anna. Elphaba was an outcast her entire life due to her green skin. Elphaba tried to fit in and help others, but was tricked into performing magical experiments on monkeys for the Wizard, who was only using Elphaba and her powers for his own selfish gain. Like Elsa, Elphaba was also framed for crimes she was tricked into and never meant to commit. While Elsa at least had the support and attempted understanding of her parents up until her late teenage years, Elphaba literally had no one there for her the majority of her life since her mother was dead and her father wanted nothing to do with the freak that was to blame for his family's embarrassment and ridicule. 

Elsa and Elphaba are probably two of the most misunderstood female characters of all time. They both have immense capabilities of love and kindness, but ultimately fear and their desire to protect the people they care about drives them to lash out and be seen as a monster to many of the people they were only trying to protect. 

Elsa and Elphaba sitting back to back.

While Frozen has a blatantly happy ending filled with reunions, love, happiness, and acceptance of both Elsa and her powers by the citizens of Arendale, Wicked's ending isn't as blatantly cheery. At first, you almost believe that Elphaba has been killed by Dorothy, as we had previously learned in "The Wizard of Oz". But then we see the Scarecrow, whom we discover to be a transformed Fiyero, due to Elphaba's spells and chants to save him, pulling Elphaba out of a hidden trap door. We see a heartbroken Glinda mourning the loss of her best friend as she informs the joyous citizens of Oz, although, unbeknownst to Glinda, Elphaba and Glinda's former love, Fiyero, are seen retreating from Oz together in search of a land in which they both can be free and accepted and live out the rest of their lives together in peace. The overall tone of the ending of Wicked is open for interpretation, but in my opinion, it is overall hopeful and more positive than negative. While Elphaba may never again see the only person she ever considered to be her true friend, she makes it out of Oz alive and with the man she loves, who also miraculously managed to escape Oz alive. 

The roles of the characters at the ending of Wicked almost counter the ending roles of the characters of Frozen, although to be honest, this can most likely be attributed to the fact that Frozen is a Disney movie aimed at young children, rather than a Broadway musical. At the end of Wicked, the citizens are thrilled upon the news that Elphaba has been killed, Glinda is left alone, yet content due to the love of the citizens of Oz, and Elphaba, who has by this point lost her younger sister Nessarose to Dorothy's house, is finally free to live out her life with Fiyero in peace without judgement or retaliation. At the end of Frozen, the citizens of Arendale accept Queen Elsa back with open arms, it is Princess Anna who is happily in love and allowed to live her life freely with Kristoff, and Queen Elsa is left alone (romantically speaking) but is content due to the love and acceptance of the citizens of Arendale and her beloved sister, Anna. 

And last but not least, there is, of course, the fact that the incomparable Idina Menzel provided the talent for both of these magical, misunderstood beauties.

The lovely Idina Menzel.

22 Tips For When You Have Your Wisdom Teeth Removed

I got my wisdom teeth removed yesterday, and needless to say, I was extremely nervous about the procedure. I have never liked needles and to this day I still cringe when I have to get a shot. So finding out I had to have an IV made me very uneasy. However, the entire procedure took a little over half an hour and I was unconscious for 90% of it. It went so much smoother than I thought it would and made me realize I had nothing to worry about.

22 Tips for when you have your wisdom teeth removed:

#1. Have a hearty, filling dinner the night before. 
         You aren't allowed to eat after dinner the night before the procedure, so eat something that will fill you up and fulfill any last minute cravings you won't be able to eat over the next few days.

#2. Drink a lot of water between dinner time and midnight the night before.
         You aren't allowed to drink anything after midnight the night before your procedure, so drink up so you won't be thirsty later.

#3. Wear comfy pajamas to your procedure.
          You will be tired and want to go to sleep or rest after your procedure, so wearing comfy pajamas lets you immediately get right to relaxing when you get home, rather than forcing whoever brought you home to attempt to help you get into pajamas while you are still numb and high on Novocain.

#4. Stock up on plenty of foods you don't need to chew.
         Due to the stitches, you won't be able to chew any food for about 2 days, so stock up on non-chewing foods, such as: yogurt, pudding, sorbet, ice cream, applesauce, popsicles, drinkable soups, smoothies (eat them with a SPOON), and Ensure or Special K drinks.

#5. Drink LOTS of water after the procedure.
         The antibiotic and painkillers will make you dehydrated, so drink a lot of water. It will also help sooth your gums.

#6. Create a chart to track when you take your pills.
         You have to take your pain medication every 4 hours and you have to take your antibiotic 4 times a day. So create a chart where you can track what time you take each pill to help keep you on track and remind you when to take your next pill. Note: Do NOT take your antibiotic every 4 hours like your pain medication, it will make you nauseous. Take it when you wake up, around lunch time, around dinner time, and before bed.

#7. AVOID straws!!
         Especially while you're still puffy from the Novocain, the temptation to use a straw will be strong, but you can't. Any sucking runs the risk of damaging or removing the stitches, as well as giving you dry mouth. Use a spoon instead.

#8. Stock up on soft foods.
         By dinner time of your second day or breakfast of your third day, you'll be able to start having solid foods again. But only soft foods, such as: mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, soup, scrambled eggs, mashed or refried beans and guacamole on a soft tortilla, vegetable purees, miso soup, tofu, and banana slices with honey (my favorite).

#9. NO FOOD NETWORK!
         Don't torture yourself by looking at food you can't have. Plus it'll make you more hungry.

#10. Take probiotics.
         This will prevent you from becoming constipated due to the antibiotics you're taking.

#11. No hot foods until 24 hours after the procedure.
         You can have lukewarm foods, but no hot foods until your second day.

#12. Give yourself a first real meal to look forward to.
       Decide upon what you want your first meal you can chew will be to give yourself something to look forward to during your recovery. My meal of choice is Chick-fil-A nuggets with fries and a lemonade. I also made plans with my family to go to Applebee's the following week so I could get their Pecan Crusted Chicken Salad and their Clubhouse Grill Sandwich.

#13. ICE!!
     You should get an ice head wrap from your dentist or oral surgeon to wear after your surgery. There should be multiple ice packs that you place in the wrap, but also extras that you keep in the freezer. Whenever you notice your ice packs getting close to room temperature, make sure to swap them out for the cold packs from the freezer. Changing your ice regularly will help with the pain and swelling and will help you stop looking like a puffy chipmunk in less time.

#14. Find a comfy spot to rest.

     The Novocain and painkillers will probably make you sleepy, so find a quiet, comfy place where you can rest for a few days in peace.

#15. Find things you can do in bed to keep yourself busy.

     When you aren't sleeping, you still need to rest and not move around a lot, so find things you can do in bed. I found a few easy crafts I could do from bed, a few books to read, my laptop, my Nintendo 64, and some movies and television shows I wanted to watch to help keep me entertained in bed. 

#16. Get some sleep.
      The best thing to do is lay down and try to get some rest. Take a few naps and try to sleep through the majority of the recovery.

#17. Don't take any medication before your procedure or while taking the painkillers.
      Do not take any medications that haven't been specifically been approved ahead of time by your oral surgeon on the day of your procedure. In addition, unless specified by your oral surgeon, do not take any other medications other than your prescribed painkiller and antibiotic during your recovery. Not even birth control. Talk to both your doctor and your oral surgeon about any daily medications you take prior to the surgery to discuss whether or not you should continue to take them while on painkillers.

#18. Keep that tongue away from the stitches!! 
      The temptation will be high, but leave the stitches alone if you want them to heal.

19. Gargle with salt water.
      Starting your second day of recovery, gargle with salt water periodically throughout the day. About 4 times a day, gargle a glass of water with about a tablespoon of salt stirred in. This will help with the pain, swelling, and keeping your stitches clean.

#20. Try to keep all talking to a minimum. 
      Keep a notepad and pen or pencil close by to avoid having to talk a lot. Talking increases the odds of loosening the stitches.

#21. Remember to thank whoever is taking care of you.

      Remember that this person is taking time away from their day to drive you to and from your procedure, taking care of you, getting you food and/or water, changing your ice, helping with your gauze, etc. Take the time to thank them and let them know their help is appreciated. 

#22. Don't panic and remember the pain will end soon.

      This isn't the worse experience of your life and should be over soon. Keep that in mind and you should be fine. :)