Disney Wordless Wednesday

This week's theme:  The Muppets - In the Parks and At Home!

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The Rainbow Connection ... Where It All Began

For me, love of the Muppets goes back to the 70s, when I used to listen to my favorite LP record over and over again in my bedroom.  Did you have a copy?

1st Grader's Perspective: Movie Candy Smuggling

Are you a Movie Candy Smuggler?  How about a "Sodas and Bottled Water in your Huger Than Normal Purse" Movie Goer? 

Image courtesy of digitalart

Oh, I'll patronize them for their $64.50 large bucket of hot, buttery popcorn.  It's out of my realm of control, really - I have to do it.  It doesn't matter what strategy I try to employ, prior to a trip to the movie theater.  I can be filled to the brim after eating an entire ribeye hanging-off-the-sides-of-my-plate steak dinner, five minutes prior to leaving for the theater.  It won't matter.  The second I get a whiff of the concession stand's steaming, freshly popped popcorn ... I'm getting in line for some. 

Disney Wordless Wednesday

This week's theme for Disney Wordless Wednesday is ... "Thanks for the Memories"!

Our family recently had a new experience, on our last trip to Walt Disney World, and it made some fantastic memories that we are thankful for! 

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The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique

The girl who typically doesn't want her hair done makes an exception for her Fairy Godmother in The Castle.

Muppets Drop In To SNL

If you are of the Muppets Generation, as am I, you are likely planning on catching the premiere of the new "Muppet Movie" this weekend.  Did you know that the list of Jason Segal's talents (as described on Wikipedia) include "puppeteer"?  I had no idea this actor was so multi-faceted.  I also read that he has co-written and helped produced the upcoming Disney released film, and played a large role in pushing to even have it made.  Go Jason!  I think I'm a new fan.  Cause let's face it people:  Anyone who loves the Muppets, is a good person to love.

This was way past my bedtime (it's life in the parenting fast lane around our household), but here are a couple of highlights from Jason's stint hosting NBC's Saturday Night Live last weekend. 

A little help with the opening monolog. 

If video widget does not appear, please try this link: 

http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/Jason-Segel-and-Muppets-Monologue/1369450

Disney Vacation Connection App

1/10/12 UPDATE:  Word on the street is that the "Disney Vacation Connection" is going away.  Users have reported experiencing different behaviors, indicating that this application is no longer going to be supported.  Some have been prompted to save the items in their gallery, along with the message "It's all coming to an end".  Others have been prompted to enter a name, address, and email in order to keep updated in the future.  

While increased overhead and related performance issues were certainly present, many will be very sad to see the Disney Vacation Connection go!  We are all suckers for the trip anticipation factor - and nothing else helps build it quite like seeing a live countdown to your vacation each and every day.

Disney Wordless Wednesday

This week's theme:  M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E!

Baby's 1st Encounter

Waiting my turn.  Is that guy famous, or something?

Poll Results: Do you visit a blog for the giveaways?

As a new blogger, I ran this poll primarily for my own information and input.  So I greatly appreciate those who participated - a big "thank you" goes out to you! 

Here are the results, which I found surprising:

Are you more likely to visit a blog regularly if they feature giveaways?

--> Yep.  I like free stuff.  Sue me.
--> No, it's all about the content.

 And the winner, by a landslide 100% of responses, is ... "No, it's all about the content!".

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Why in the world would I make a cake from SCRATCH?

For years I pondered the question, "Since making a cake is clearly an exact enough science that they have it perfected to the point where you can buy a box mix for $.99 ... why would anyone go to the hassle of making one from scratch?"  Have you ever pondered them same thing?  Then I'm here with a gratifying answer for you today.

Because making one from scratch is going to ROCK YOUR WORLD, and those of your cake-eatin' loved ones - that's why!

Eewwy goooey yumness

My neighbor friend is known for her amazing chocolate cakes.  One taste, and you're hooked.  I assumed this was not a skill I would be able to add to my  repertoire, and perhaps you are thinking the same thing... but take heart!  She freely shared her recipe, and the secret is - it's just not that hard, and it's sooo worth it!  Read on, and give it a shot.

The Disneyland Blog Hop - Mickey Pretzels

He's soft.  He's salty.  He's twisted up.  And he's oh, so satisfying!  Who is he?  He's the tasty new Mickey Pretzel at Magic Kingdom!

We had a chance to try out this latest new snack this Fall ... at the time, it was only available from the food cart in Frontierland (near the turkey leg cart).  And you know he tastes way better than a regular old pretzel! 

I'm not a bettin' woman.  But I'll bet this snack's here to stay.

Check out the other blog posts from the "Blog Hop:  Food Edition" this week, by clicking the button below:

Disney Blog Hop - Wordless Wednesday

Majestic.  "One Girl's Dream ..." is that this was my bedroom.

 My very first "Wordless Wednesday"!  Click the button above to see more great pictures in this week's Hop - "One Man's Dream..."

1st Grader's Perspective: Mom’s Dangerous Job

Each year of my eldest child’s life brings new and interesting developments, which I delight in seeing.  

I don’t know about you, but they are teaching my daughter much more in First Grade than I EVER learned at that age.  The other day she inquired, “Do you know what a polygon is?”  I thought I probably did?   Don’t ask me to give you an actual definition, or anything crazy like that.  Which she proceeded to do.  “A polygon is any shape with 3 or more sides, flat, with no openings”.  Sweet!  I’m going to try and use that word three times in my daily life today, and make it my own.

I have always tried to explain things in terms I thought she would understand, trying to giving her context to help grasp new concepts.  Myself, I’ve always been a “show me the Big Picture, and where this fits in” kinda girl.  And the technique seems to work well for her, too. 

The Modern Day Prince Charming

The stereotypes have shifted.  We are living in times which can suddenly flip our normal family life on its ear.  Almost overnight, you may find you are having to switch roles, and struggle to find a new way to balance the loads.  This is the tale of my Modern Day Prince Charming - does he sound like someone in your life?   

He cooks.  He cleans.  He changes poopy diapers.  He's the Modern Day Prince Charming.

Don't Forget the Backup... Bringing Grandparents Along to Disney - Part II

So in Part I, you read the riveting saga of how and why my parents agreed to meet my family (Party of 3, at that time) at Walt Disney World.  In this post I will include my Top 4 Reasons why I recommend that your family does so, too!

My parents live in a different state, so they flew down separately and met us at the All-Star Movies Resort, where we had booked our 7 day package (3 of them FREE!  THIS is what I lose sleep over ... please, please, PLEEEASE bring that off season deal back, Disney!!  Please and thank you.) 

If you have not been to WDW, they have "value" resorts with affordable prices that I guarantee will pleasantly surprise you.  They are a hustling, bustling blast and frankly have more Disney theming than the other, more expensive resorts on property.  I'll save that analysis for another post.

Let's get to the report, shall we?  

My mom and dad bought those Minnie Ears especially for ME - but did I get to wear them?  Jeeez.

Top 4 reasons to bring grandparents along on your WDW trip:

Don’t Forget the Backup … Bringing Grandparents Along to Disney – Part I

This idea was not original to me, I’ll just lay that out on the table right away.  My daughter was 3, I was at a lunch with some fellow stay at home moms, and one of them was talking about their recent trip to Disney World.  Thinking back, this very likely started that first seed.  Not the seed to “bring grandparents along with you to Disney” … the seed to even GO to Disney!  That seed which rapidly grew inside me to become the, I’ll admit it, obsession of vacationing at Disney which I now have today.

My dad, having waaay too much fun - making new friends in the Magic Kingdom.

Thank you!

It was a GREAT first day! 

Thanks to everyone who checked out the debut of my blog, and my very first post ever.  I appreciate it, and the encouraging, positive comments were so uplifting - this is going to be so much fun!

My mission is now to bring interesting and enjoyable content in the days to come ... the ideas are spinning in my head ...

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When You Wish Upon a Star

“When I grow up, I want to be a …”? Do you even remember? When you were a kid, what did you wish to be when you grew up? I don’t recall the specifics, but for me I believe that “horse trainer” and “pilot” were in there somewhere along the way. I’m grown up now, by the way, and I’m neither of those things. But I’m ok with that.

I don’t think you realistically (or not so realistically) start formulating that wish until you actually start working. That’s when the disparity begins to set in. Between what you find is either available for you to do, or what you need to do … and what you wish, deep down inside, that you could do.