Disney Recap

I'm back from Disney and I had a fabulous time. I don't know if I mentioned on the blog, but I was slightly nervous about spending six days at Disney with children. I love my nieces and nephews, but I'm just not used to that much child time.  Of course, I was silly to worry, and we all had a great time (of course we did, it's Disney!)

The one sad part is, I did not get to meet my main blue friend, the GENIE of the LAMP* from Aladdin. He's my favorite Disney character of ALL-TIME and --Jill Stuckey bonus fact-- when I was young (like between the ages of 12 to 15) I had an obsessive collection of Genie toys.  I did see his likeness in a store, and that got me pretty excited. See below.

Seriously, though, we stayed in an amazing hotel (Disney's Art of Animation), visited three of the parks (I think Hollywood Studios is my favorite) and got to go swimming and wear shorts.  

 Pictured above, my sister's family at the entrance to Hollywood Studios.

Natalie had a lot of fun.  She sat in her stroller as we maneuvered around the crowds at each park and never complained.  She was wide-eyed the whole time (except for when she was asleep), taking it all in.  I think her favorite part was the pool at our hotel, which was decorated in an amazing Finding Nemo motif (it even had underwater speakers so that you could jam out while you were swimming....I loved this more than Natalie, as she does not go under water willingly. She's more of an above water splasher).  

I think Julia's favorite thing was meeting and getting autographs from a whole bunch of princesses.  We met Aurora, Rapunzel, Cinderella, Merida, Ariel and Belle.  I really loved meeting the princesses and characters too (we also met Buzz and Woody, Jake from Jake and the Neverland Pirates, Donald and Daisy, Mickey and Minnie, Pluto and Goofy, Mr. Incredible and Frozone).  I'm not sure why exactly, but I love the way they so thoroughly inhabit their characters and how warm they are when greeting the children and the pictures. Pictured above is Julia with Princess Merida from Brave.  She was my favorite of the princesses, because she had the most amazing hair and she talked in an impressive Scottish accent.)

I think one of Zach's favorite things (besides riding roller coasters with me, which was definitely my favorite part of being at Disney with Zach) was when he got to attend Jedi training and fight Darth Vader.  He made the entire audience laugh when it was his turn.  He stepped up to face Vader and the Jedi Master asked Zach, "Do you have anything to say to him?" And Zach just shook his head and whipped out his light saber for combat. It was awesome.  Pictured above from left to right: the Jedi Master, Darth Vader and three trainees. Zach is the middle boy.)

Disney is a lot of fun, but it can be exhausting.  I hardly ever sleep in the car, but both Natalie and I were sacked out on the way back.

*Picture me saying this in my best Genie impression.

Thankful Thursdays: Better Late than Never

This may be the latest I've ever posted a Thankful Thursday blog, but this girl had stuff to do tonight. 

I am, after all, leaving for DISNEY WORLD on Saturday. 

Oh, you know, the most magical place on earth?

The rest of this blog will mostly be me rubbing it in that I'm on vacation next week and you're not. Feel free to skip it, if you're sensitive to that kind of good natured jiving.* 

No more procrastination, say it with me now, LET'S GET THANKFUL! 

 I'm thankful I'm heading to Disney (no, duh)

I have always loved Disney World. I'm lucky, I've been visiting the Magic Kingdom every few years for my whole life. I can't wait. I hope I run into the Genie from Aladdin while I'm there.  That dude is one funny dude.  Also, he's blue.

I'm thankful I get to share Disney World with these princesses and this prince.

Princess Natalie and Princess Julia

Uh, so Zach doesn't ever seem to dress up as a prince,
but you get the theme I was going for, right?

I'm not sure if my sister exactly asked me to go to Disney World with her family or I just invited myself along when I found out they were going. But I'm so glad I get to experience it with her three kiddos (and their parents).  

I'm thankful that Natalie is turning TWO!

She's two and she already knows how to use an iPad.
She's so advanced

I remember the day she was born and the scary first few weeks that she spent in ICU so vividly.  I went to visit her as much as I could because she looked so lonely lying there in that incubator.  I've so loved watching her grow (even if I am in no way even close to being her favorite aunt. I don't even know who is her favorite aunt, just that I am not.  Maybe I can use the magic of WDW to lure her into loving me more?)

I'm thankful for the Mindy Project theme song.

It's real groovy.

I'm thankful that tomorrow is April's birthday! 
(of The Striped Flamingo fame...check it out, it's a great blog)

Happy Birthday April!  I just realized that we've been friends for 10 years this fall.  Man, that is a long time. You've taught me so much about fashion, funny accents, being funny andmovie quotes. Thanks, friend.

Now let me tell you real quick what I am not thankful for: people who get other people's hopes up that snow is on its way to the Carolinas.  It's not coming, people! And when you all talk about it and Facebook about it, it just gets my hopes up too, too much. I can't handle that kind of heartbreak on the day before vacay.

*Full disclosure, I typed "jibing", thought "that doesn't look right, had to dictionary.com it (which, incidentally doesn't have the same flow as "google it") and learned that jibing is "to alter course so that a fore-and-aft sail shifts in this manner." There's your vocab/sailing lesson out of the way for today! You, my friend, are welcome!

FAQs in Vlog format

A new vlog for you this Wednesday eve. Enjoy!

 

Lessons Learned from Downton: Season 3, Episode 2

As I've mentioned before Downton Abbey* is my absolute favorite television show.**

It is dramatic and beautiful and proper and elegant and it has wonderful clothes and handsome men.

But, also it has much wisdom to share with us all. So here's the first of what I hope to be a semi-regular post: Lessons Learned from Downton. (These are both serious and silly, but contain no spoilers. Hurrah!)

Kitchen maid: I should never have thought I'd feel sorry for an earl's daughter.
House maid: All God's creatures have their sorrows.
I've been realizing this one over and over lately.  You may think you got problems, but sister you're not the only one.  The good thing is, once you've come to terms with this statement, you can stop wallowing in your issues and start helping someone else with theirs.

Lady Grantham: You are being tested.  And you know what they say my darling. Being tested only makes you stronger.
True dat, your ladyship.  A year or two back when I had lost a whole bunch of weight, but not yet made it to my goal of 100 pounds lost, I was bothered but knew that my continued persistence would only serve to teach me better how to survive.  Now that I've gained all of that substantial weight loss back, I'm not sure exactly what the lesson to be learned is, but I definitely know I'm learning one.

Dowager Countess of Grantham: Sybill, vulgarity is no substitute for wit.
I'm not 100% sure about this one, because poop jokes are pretty funny, but Cousin Violet was actually referring to sex jokes and I agree with her on that one.

Earl of Grantham: I doubt we'll need more than eight servants tops, so it will be very economical.
If you're worried about your finances, tighten your belt and limit yourself to eight servants.  Tough times call for drastic measures.

*If you want to sound like a rube, pronounce it DownTOWN Abbey. If you want to sound like a member of the British landed gentry, pronounce it properly: Downton Abbey (ton, not town). This has been your weekly Public Service Announcement, sponsored by Jill Stuckey.
**Let's get one thing straight.  I caught the Downton bug way before you and the rest of America.

Featuring Jess Hudgens

My friend, former running partner, fellow Winthrop alum and music video co-star Jess Hudgens is now a professional blogger!

I'm so proud of her.  Not only is she an excellent writer, but she is a deep thinker, which makes her blogs about her recovery from an eating disorder all the more valuable.

You can find her posts here: www.healthyplace.com/blogs/survivinged. Check them out!

TGITT!

I guess because we're all still getting back in the swing of things after the long holiday, but it seems like its been a long week ~ TGITT: Thank Goodness it's Thankful Thursday!

Today I'm thankful:

For early morning workouts that allow me to watch the sun rise over campus from the gym window.

Normally, I would still be sleeping as the sun rose.  But this week I've been up early each day and I really haven't hated it at all. (big-time thankfulness for that!) It's nice not to feel guilty for skipping a workout. Also, I'm glad to get it done and out of the way, so I can do what I want during lunch or after work.  Side bonus: watching the sun rise as I make my loops around the track.

For the return of Downton Abbey and for it not disappointing.

I love this show a ridiculous amount, and while I know a lot of people watch it, no one that I see on a daily basis does.  That means I've had no one to talk with about the GOODNESS of the first episode. That's okay, because another one of my favorite things is describing the plot of the episodes to those who don't watch it (which I've had a couple of opportunities to do).

For the interesting ways I've consumed vegetables this week.

Becoming a herbivore hasn't been too bad either. I did make some really weird dishes this week, like the Creamy Carrot Soup, pictured above.  But I've made several different dishes on the Happy Herbivore plan and only one came out completely disgusting.  Each of her recipes is really easy, and it only makes like two servings, so I haven't gotten bored with what I've been eating.

For my niece Natalie really getting the hang of walking, just in time for our trip to Disney World!

Natalie turns 2 next week and has really been conquering walking the last couple of weeks! Can't wait to travel with her and her family soon to see THE mouse at his own house!

I'm also thankful for funny videos, funny texts, funny pictures.  And having basic things like hot water and heat.  And not-so-basic things that still seem to be overlooked in the thankfulness area like a dishwasher and a refrigerator.  And the amazing York County Library.  Basically, I'm always surprised at how short my thankfulness posts are because there are endless amounts of people and things in my life for me to make me exponentially thankful. But, I suppose, it's a place to start.

So, what are you most thankful for this week?

From the Mouths of Puppets...

Hello!  You're in for a special treat* today!  A vlog entry for you!

It was my first experience shooting a video with my new laptop (possibly the most fun thing I've done this month**) and editing it in iMovie (so cut me some slack!).

Hope you enjoy. Next time, will be even better, I promise.



*I hope you will think it is a special treat and not just nonsense spewed from naked hands.
**besides talking about and promoting this little gem at every turn.