Beauty and the Beach ~ Deluxe Edition

[Mndisneygirl]

and here I am just under 5 months!!! ha!!! Did Dave wear his hat today!?

It will fly by!

You bet Dave wore his hat!!! He's also wearing a t-shirt from Caribbean Beach!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Woo hoo for five weeks!!!

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Hey guys! I'm going a little nuts here. I spent this morning clearing out Sarah's room - Dave is going to paint it starting today and while we're camping. But I've been reading a bunch of TRs - some with Beach Club and Cruise!! (Wigd!!) I'm getting SO EXCITED I can't stand it! It's still over a month away!
The worst part is this - I had fully intended that this would be our last WDW trip for a couple years. SInce we're going to London/Paris next summer, I need to save $$ for that. I thought we'd either stay home this winter eek or go somewhere REALLY inexpensive - i.e. NOT Disney. Then DH is always looking at cruises and sees a short one when our kids are on spring break at the beginning of March (SO glad it's earlier this year!). But it's still not cheap. So today I see Wigd's cruise pictures and I SO want to do it again. (Sshhh - don't tell Dave, he'll book it and I'll really be broke!)

Am I just crazy??
I think so.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

WOW!!! I wouldnt say crazy!!! No way! A little Disney obsessed--maybe!! but jeez, we all are!!!

 

[Mndisneygirl]

WOW!!! I wouldnt say crazy!!! No way! A little Disney obsessed--maybe!! but jeez, we all are!!!

I guess I knew this would be the wrong place to ask that. I would probably get a different answer elsewhere.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

True...but do you reaaally trust those other people?

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Good point! Who would I trust more than you guys?

So I better really sit down and figure out a way to be able to do this! HA! We may be eating Ramen for the next 8 months (except when we're at WDW on DXDP!!).

I have already decided that after this trip, I'm going to get some guide books for London and Paris, and DLP. The biggest problem, i.e. expense is the airfare. Right now it's looking like at least $1000 per person!!! Man, I hope that changes!

Okay. One trip at a time, right?

Q: Does anyone who goes in summer use those mister fans? I really DON'T want to lug them around. I'm thinking if I just go into A/C regularly, and drink water, I won't need it. I know there are a bunch of places in the parks you can get wet anyway and wouldn't a fan just blow HOT air on me?

So it's raining right now. This is the time we were supposed to be loading up the car to go camping. HA! I guess I'm glad we canceled tonight! Who wants to put up a tent in the rain, sit in the tent while it's raining, and try to start a fire after it's been raining? No thanks. I'll stay in and watch a Disney movie tonight!!

 

[2_Eagle_Mom]

So...inquiring minds want to know, what did you end up watching???

I've done the set-up camp in the rain - no fun. Good idea staying home.

 

[MEK]

Congrats on your ME tags!

Congrats on less than 5 weeks!


Regarding the mister fans. I have found that my kids may use them the first day, a little less the second day, and then not at all. Then I end up carrying them!

 

[Charleston Princess]

A cruise would be a lot of fun, wouldn't it?

I am curious about the mister fans, too. I am wondering if it would be worth it to lug them around.

 

[Mndisneygirl]

I'm back from my quasi camping trip! More on that later...

So...inquiring minds want to know, what did you end up watching???

I've done the set-up camp in the rain - no fun. Good idea staying home.

We watched A Bug's Life. Hadn't seen it in a while. Think we will pick a more classic one next time. Plus I want to watch TS 1 and 2 before we get to the theater for TS3.

Congrats on your ME tags!

Congrats on less than 5 weeks!


Regarding the mister fans. I have found that my kids may use them the first day, a little less the second day, and then not at all. Then I end up carrying them!

Thanks! Good to know about the misters fans. I have heard about some mini fans that might be okay. They wouldn't be too heavy to carry around maybe. If I find them, I might get them. If not, we'll live without it. Maybe we'll just share two.

A cruise would be a lot of fun, wouldn't it?

I am curious about the mister fans, too. I am wondering if it would be worth it to lug them around.

Oh - cruises are great. It's like having the deluxe dining plan and then some. You can order MORE than one of everything!! And there's so much to see and do...Man I've got to do it again!

So today we are at 30 DAYS!!!
And to celebrate, we have made a countdown chain!

I have hung it up in the kitchen from an unused bracket from our old vertical blinds.

In other PTR news, we finally saw a decent rate for a rental car today!! We booked with Alamo so we could pick it up at the Dolphin and return at MCO. I had a code for using a VISA to save 20% and a coupon from an Entertainment book (thanks to my neighbor) to get a free day. After adding all the ridiculous fees and taxes, it's $239!!! We'd been seeing $499 lately for a week! Scary! So I crossed that off my list!

While we were "camping" Dave painted Sarah's bedroom. We had bought her a comforter recently and she picked out two paint colors - bright darker pink and bright lime green (DIS!). So he painted two walls pink and two green. He put some random circles on the opposite color walls. Just for fun he threw in a couple of MICKEYS!! He texted me a picture and I wasn't sure he was serious. First he did 4 of them and labeled them Mom, Dad, Sarah and Paige! He did paint over those and then did two for real! It's pretty cute and Sarah loves it, so those two will stay. One is behind her door. I'll post pictures later.

I went to Target and bought a few new tank tops yesterday. I don't want to overpack, but I think I will bring about 6 tanks with me. I really only need 5 days worth of clothes for WDW and then at the condo I can do laundry. I have to check my shorts situtation too. I've lost about 10 lbs and a lot of my stuff is too big! (YAY!)
Now I have to check the girls' clothes and see what they have.
I also bought some Clinical Strenght Secret Deoderant. Then I looked at the label and compared it to the regular Secret that I use. It has 1% more of the active ingredient and it says to apply morning and night or something. Is it really better??? We shall see. I had a $2 off coupon, so it wasn't too bad, but it normally costs 2x as much!
Have to get to the dollar store soon to look for more stuff! Need to get shopping.

So - camping - here's what happened:
Friday night we had cancelled. Left Saturday at 8:30 a.m. Set up camp, tents and bags etc. Hung out all day - really humid. Had a fire and cooked hot dogs for lunch. Kind of too hot! Kids went swimming and we all just had a good time. One of the kids (not mine, for once) was having a tough time (she's 4) and needed a nap, but couldn't do it with all of us being around. Anyway, we had our dinner, made another fire and had smores. Then I'd been checking my iphone for weather and we called my friend's parents, who lived nearby. It was going to storm again that night after 10! GRRR! So we decided to pack it in. The sleeping bags and pillows were already damp from humidity! Gross.
We got out of there and went to her parents' house and set up our bags in their living room. Then us grown ups made a run to the liquor store! We sat around drinking mudslides and eating popcorn and lighting sparklers. We finally got the kids to bed and the storns came. It was pretty heavy rain and thunder and lightining, so we were glad we chose to pack it up. The next morning, the 4 yr old was still pretty snarky, so they stayed at their grandma's house and the rest of us left. We stopped for a great breakfast and were home around 10 or so. It was fun, even though it was limited! I've got another camping trip in two weeks with Sarah's girl scout troop and if it storms again, I'm done! That will be 4 out of 4 trips with a storm!
I had a bridal shower in the afternoon and now I've got a busy week at work too. I can't wait for the holiday weekend!
Plus - I have an added bonus! Friday night I will get to have another DISmeet with Northern Disney Girl - Kim and her family at the Mall of America!!! I'm so glad they decided to come to the Twin Cities for their summer vacation! And she timed it well - not when we're going to be in FL!
So that's the update for now. I don't know how much I'll be around this week, but you know I can't stay away long!

 

[Dugette]

For what it's worth, on the misting fans, we got a couple of the mini ones before our last trip. This is the only picture I have of one, not the best pic:

I used it a lot in the 90-degree humidity and it was nice to have. They also have a small carabiner on them, so you can clip to a bag or something. The only place I could find them was Walmart. I think they were about $3/each.

 

[Dancegrl624]

I just bought an inexpensive fan at Walmart to bring with us in Sept. I think it was around $4 and it looks like the above picture. It's actually quite powerful and it works really well! I was going to buy a misting fan, but who wants to carry that around?! I think if you avoid the parks during the hottest time of day and dress in cool/loose clothing, you should be fine.

 

[2_Eagle_Mom]

Our Disney Store had some fans that were on strings that you could hang around your neck. I don't know if they still carry them, but they took 2 AA batteries so they were much easier to have the kids carry their own. I agree the mister fans are just WAY too bulky to carry around.

Don't give up on camping! You just need to come out to CA where we don't have afternoon/evening storms in the summer. Yosemite is lovely this time of year....Just saying...

 

[Charleston Princess]

Hurray for being under 30 days! Love the countdown chain!

Sarah's room sounds very pretty -- can't wait to see pictures!

That's too bad that the weather wasn't cooperating with the camping trip -- hopefully the next one will be more of a success!

 

[Lady Lallie]

I can't wait to see the pictures of the new bedroom!

What a bummer about your camping trip. I had an ill fated girl scout camping trip one year. I woke up and my bed roll was literally floating in water. It was awful. I don't think I went camping again after that, at least not in a tent.

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

YAY for 30 DAYS!!!

Can't wait to see pics of the new room!

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Pictures! Pictures!! I know she was excited to get back to her finished room! I like your chain...did you stamp the mickeys or just draw them on?

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

4 WEEKS TODAY!!

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Pictures! Pictures!! I know she was excited to get back to her finished room! I like your chain...did you stamp the mickeys or just draw them on?

I just drew them on. I made them on day 31, so I was a bit pressed for time!

4 WEEKS TODAY!!

Dave was planning to wear his hat again today!

I can't wait to see the pictures of the new bedroom!

What a bummer about your camping trip. I had an ill fated girl scout camping trip one year. I woke up and my bed roll was literally floating in water. It was awful. I don't think I went camping again after that, at least not in a tent.

OH MY! I don't think I'd go camping again either! Reminds me of the new version of the Parent Trap where Meredith wakes up floating in the lake with a bird pecking on her!

Hurray for being under 30 days! Love the countdown chain!

Sarah's room sounds very pretty -- can't wait to see pictures!

That's too bad that the weather wasn't cooperating with the camping trip -- hopefully the next one will be more of a success!

Yeah, we had fun anyway, but if the next one is stormy, I may have to give up camping.

Our Disney Store had some fans that were on strings that you could hang around your neck. I don't know if they still carry them, but they took 2 AA batteries so they were much easier to have the kids carry their own. I agree the mister fans are just WAY too bulky to carry around.

Don't give up on camping! You just need to come out to CA where we don't have afternoon/evening storms in the summer. Yosemite is lovely this time of year....Just saying...

I would like to try out west still. We haven't ventured too far west with the kids and it is our goal to have them set foot in all 50 states before they leave the nest. (Of course, some don't leave for a loooong while!)
Thanks for the fan tips. Stay tuned.

I just bought an inexpensive fan at Walmart to bring with us in Sept. I think it was around $4 and it looks like the above picture. It's actually quite powerful and it works really well! I was going to buy a misting fan, but who wants to carry that around?! I think if you avoid the parks during the hottest time of day and dress in cool/loose clothing, you should be fine.

Thanks Meghan! See below to see what I found.

For what it's worth, on the misting fans, we got a couple of the mini ones before our last trip. This is the only picture I have of one, not the best pic:

I used it a lot in the 90-degree humidity and it was nice to have. They also have a small carabiner on them, so you can clip to a bag or something. The only place I could find them was Walmart. I think they were about $3/each.

Does it hold any water? Again, see below.

YAY for 30 DAYS!!!

Can't wait to see pics of the new room!

WOOHOO! I'm getting so excited!
Pictures will be soon. I have yet to take them!

So, I will take pictures of Sarah's room hopefully tonight (when I'm actually going to be home!!) before it gets too messy.
Today on my lunch I went and walked to Walmart, which is across the parking lot. I never ever shop there, but since I've been told by all of you nice people I could find things there, I did it.
I found two types of mini fans. One you can add water to and the other is just a fan. They all have the carbiner clips. The good news is they come in LIME GREEN!! I bought two of each type and figure we will test them out and see how it goes. One kind takes 2 AA batteries and the other takes 1 AA. So I will have to stock up on those if I don't have any.
I also found some cotton skinny strap sports bras in white/grey/black - 3 for $10!! I wasn't sure what I was going to wear under tank tops. Some would be okay with a regular bra. But these are cotton, and should breathe! I'm not too top heavy, so I don't need to worry about a lot of support. (that's good with me!)
I found some water shoes for the girls to wear at the beach but didn't know for sure the size, so we will have to go together for that.
SO - all in all a good trip to Wally world!

I'm hoping tonight to work on my binder and gather all the info I've printed up. I've printed a bunch of menus today and will stick those in there. I need to find some plastic sleeves (maybe that seal) to put documents in.
And the list goes on...