A year without Disney? Who am I kidding?!(a PTR) LINK TO TR!

[SOUTHERNtinkerBELLE]

That is wonderful news! Congrats to your DH!

 

[DisMomAmy]

Congratulations to your DH!!! And really to both of you! I'm so impressed that you guys have such a solid financial plan to take care of your debts.

You can really enjoy those couples massages now!

 

[DisneyCrafter]

That is wonderful news! Congrats to your DH!

Thanks. I think the congratulations may have been too soon, however. Our income tax is about to go up by 66%!

Congratulations to your DH!!! And really to both of you! I'm so impressed that you guys have such a solid financial plan to take care of your debts.

You can really enjoy those couples massages now!

The debt bothers me. However, it doesn't bother me enough that I just want to put every extra cent we have to pay it off. I get more tempted to just go out and add more debt b/c of the lack of excitement in our lives!

I asked Greg what he was most looking forward to on the cruise and he said "the massage".

 

[DisneyCrafter]

I've not had much motivation to post anything as it doesn't appear I have very many readers! I get that I'm being boring, however. I suppose that it's that we don't have the Disney trip booked, so I feel superstitious talking about it. If I talk about it, I'll get more excited about it.

Greg and I had a discussion last week and I asked him if he could pick anywhere he wanted to travel to, where would he choose? (Keep in mind I told him WITHIN REASON. I suppose you're hoping this is where he said "DISNEY WORLD!" But, he didn't. You know what he did say? "Alaska or Hawaii." Totally NOT within reason for us ATM. I then proceeded to say, "Ummm...anywhere else?" His reply, "New Jersey." HUH?! Random. So now, I'm completely torn. I, too, would like to travel and see different places in the U.S. but I loooooooooove Disney World! We're going on a cruise next month and that is something new for us. Sure, we've been to the Bahamas but I've never been on a cruise. I think I will list out our (well, mostly MY as Greg was lucky enough to take yearly family vacations every summer as a kid) travel list.

New York City. I want to see a musical on Broadway, visit Ellis Island, walk through the Upper East Side, and stroll through Central Park.

Washington, D.C. Technically, I've been here but it was on a school trip and I didn't appreciate it the way I would now. Greg's never been here.

California. Specifically, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Anaheim. Disneyland is self-explanatory. Also, Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge. In Los Angeles, I really just want to see the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Hollywood Sign, and go on one of those cheesy celebrity home tours. Perhaps I'd like to go to Sonoma/Napa Valley but I'm not sure Greg would get any enjoyment out of that as he isn't a big fan of wine. When we do this trip, we'll end it in Las Vegas, and we'd like to drive to the edge of the Grand Canyon.

Hawaii. I actually have this trip semi-planned. I'd like to stay on Oahu, in Waikiki. We'll hike, snorkel, and go to a luau.

Alaskan Cruise. The prices actually are pretty reasonable. The excursions, however, are ASTRONOMICAL. If we go, I'm not about to come back regretting not participating in activities we'd love to do.

Niagara Falls. The U.S. side is about a 9 hour drive from us, so not too bad. However, I only see myself spending one day here. I actually have been planning a road trip where we would drive from our house here in IL to Washington D.C. then go to NYC and stop in Niagara Falls on our way back.

Colorado. I want to go during the winter and go skiing or at least snowshoeing. A long weekend here would be plenty.

Europe. Specifically, London, Paris, Scotland and Ireland. On a separate trip, I'd like to do a Mediterranean cruise where we visit Italy.

Tokyo. This is all Greg. I'm worried about what we would eat-he's more interested in how technologically advanced Japan is.

Other places on our list: New Orleans, Nantucket, Savannah, Atlanta, and Nashville.

Phew! See where I'm torn? Greg is such a go with the flow kinda guy that he'll go anywhere and not complain. I, on the other hand, want to make the BEST decision. Our budget obviously can't do Alaska or Hawaii but California? Perhaps, if we get a great airfare deal and a good car rental deal. We'd still be going to Disney AND we'd visit someplace new. What do you guys think???

 

[DisneyFirefly]

In all honesty, if you ever get a chance to visit Alaska, GO. It's so so so beautiful there! I spent four months working for a cruise line at one of their landbased resorts near Denali National Park, and it was so awesome.

 

[SOUTHERNtinkerBELLE]

I completely get the want to take other vacations outside of Disney. There is so much to see and do! For the most part, since Miguel and I met our only vacations together have been to Disney (minus trips to my dad's and the beach) and I would really like for us to start visiting some other places as well.

Off of your list, my vote would be for NYC. That is one of my absolute favorite places to visit. There is just so much to see and do there. The only thing is it's pretty pricey. Nice hotels are so expensive there! With that said, I really prefer long-weekend trips to NY as opposed to week-long one's, mostly because I find that it can become overwhelming at times. It's good for the budget that way, though!

 

[DisneyCrafter]

In all honesty, if you ever get a chance to visit Alaska, GO. It's so so so beautiful there! I spent four months working for a cruise line at one of their landbased resorts near Denali National Park, and it was so awesome.

Wow! What an awesome experience you had! I think we are planning for May 2012. I'm so looking forward to it!

I completely get the want to take other vacations outside of Disney. There is so much to see and do! For the most part, since Miguel and I met our only vacations together have been to Disney (minus trips to my dad's and the beach) and I would really like for us to start visiting some other places as well.

Off of your list, my vote would be for NYC. That is one of my absolute favorite places to visit. There is just so much to see and do there. The only thing is it's pretty pricey. Nice hotels are so expensive there! With that said, I really prefer long-weekend trips to NY as opposed to week-long one's, mostly because I find that it can become overwhelming at times. It's good for the budget that way, though!

I think NYC would be good for a long weekend as well. Arriving on a Friday afternoon and leaving on a Monday morning would be plenty.

Greg and I were talking and right now we're leaning towards Disneyland with a day trip to L.A. and then heading over to Las Vegas with a day trip to the Grand Canyon.

 

[DisneyCrafter]

In two weeks...

We would have spent 2 nights in Orlando and we'll be embarking the ship! We'll grab some lunch (along with EVERYBODY else) before heading to our room to get settled and freshened up for our first evening on board! I hope to spend sail away in the lounge that offers the best view of the ship sailing away with a martini before heading off to the main dining room for dinner! That evening we'll either catch a show or give some money to the casino. We'll probably call it somewhat of an early evening because the next day we'll wake up in Cococay, Bahamas and snorkel for the first time ever!

Just as good, is we paid the balance of the cruise, transportation, couples massage, and airfare in CASH this past Friday! Woo! We still have plenty of expenses left for the trip including the hotel, gas for the rental car, food before the trip and on our departure day (just lunch at the airport), excursions and shopping/souvenirs. I'm just happy that we already paid off so much of it!

 

[DisMomAmy]

Woo Hoo!! Your cruise is so close!!

 

[SOUTHERNtinkerBELLE]

I'm so jealous you'll be on the cruise in two weeks! That is so exciting!

 

[DisneyCrafter]

Woo Hoo!! Your cruise is so close!!

I'm definitely looking forward to it!

I'm so jealous you'll be on the cruise in two weeks! That is so exciting!

Just 8 more days now until we fly to Orlando!

 

[DisneyCrafter]

I hope everyone had a great weekend! I turned 24 today. I had a great birthday weekend celebrating. Friday night, Greg and I went out to dinner. We tried a new Italian place by us and we loved it! Afterwards, we did something we usually don't do and went to the casino. Greg ended up making $140 at a Blackjack table and I won $55 on a 2 CENT slot machine! We used it to pay for the dinner, Greg bought me my birthday present (a pasta maker attachment for my Kitchenaid mixer), and the rest will be used for our trip. Besides the pasta maker I also got some cash/giftcards, a new purse, a few hair accessories, some clothes, a Vera Bradley hanging travel organizer and thermal straightener/curling iron cover, and the Fantasia and Toy Story 3 DVDs. I'm a very lucky lady.

Beginning tomorrow morning (Monday) and ending Wednesday afternoon is a predicted snowy disaster. They're predicting anywhere between 12-18 inches of snow. I'm hoping they're wrong. It could definitely make for an interesting start to the week! I've got plenty of things to get done this week as we are leaving for FL in just 6 days! (Luckily, there is no snow predicted for this weekend-YET!)

Monday:
-DH bring suitcases up from the basement
-Organize toiletries into hanging organizers
-Choose outfits & pack

Tuesday:
-Setup vacation hold on mail with USPS online
-Pack carry on bags
-DH charge all electronics we're bringing/update iPods

Wednesday:
-WORK EVENING

Thursday:
-WORK EVENING
-DH sweep, vacuum & polish

Friday:
-Gas/Bank
-Laundry
-Clean bathrooms/windex mirrors
-Empty fridge of perishables
-Finish packing
-Cat's: Clean/pack litter boxes & food/extra litter
-Pay bills
-Paint nails

Saturday:
-Program thermostat for week
-Empty garbages
-Pack last minute toiletries

 

[DisneyCrafter]

Here's the itinerary that I created for our upcoming trip. My awesome DH taught me how to do screen shots and paste them into paint and then save them as JPEG images so I can share them with you all! Obviously, reservation numbers and all of that is blacked out.

 

[SOUTHERNtinkerBELLE]

Happy birthday! It sounds like it was a wonderful one!

I love the to-do list! Those always help me feel so much more organized when I'm stressing out before a trip. And that itinerary is awesome. I love how you put cute little pictures in. You are going to have so much fun on the cruise!

 

[DisneyCrafter]

Happy birthday! It sounds like it was a wonderful one!

I love the to-do list! Those always help me feel so much more organized when I'm stressing out before a trip. And that itinerary is awesome. I love how you put cute little pictures in. You are going to have so much fun on the cruise!

Thanks for the birthday wishes! I got a lot of things packed today and tomorrow I plan on packing the carry-on and the other items I forgot to pack tonight. We also will charge all of the electronics we plan on bringing (GPS, Ipods, Cameras).

 

[DisneyCrafter]

I never thought I would say it but Chicagoland is literally shut down! People were stuck on Lake Shore Drive literally all night, 60 miles of a major interstate is closed, and there's a driving ban in our county!

DH ventured outside to take some photos and I just have to share them with you! Chicago Snownami 2011:

 

[DisMomAmy]

Whoa... I guess you're ready for your cruise!

 

[DisneyFirefly]

I was so NOT happy to have to go to work today It's pretty to look at, but I HATE SNOW!

 

[SOUTHERNtinkerBELLE]

All I have to say is WOW!!!!

 

[DisneyCrafter]

Whoa... I guess you're ready for your cruise!

You could say that again! However, I'm still worrying about the weather in Birmingham, AL. We are flying there for our layover tomorrow and I guess it's quite the wintry mix. SW was allowing passengers for yesterday and today's flights to reschedule. The weather report for tomorrow is clear so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. At least the ship doesn't sail until Monday!

I was so NOT happy to have to go to work today It's pretty to look at, but I HATE SNOW!

I would not have wanted to go out on Wednesday either. I saw home from 1130am Tuesday morning until 4pm Thursday afternoon. I was going stir crazy!

All I have to say is WOW!!!!

It's the snow drifts that are so bad.