Dragging a grumpy DH back to the World ~ Single Digits!!

[debraW76]

I am starving now too!

 

[TxRabbit]

It's so fun looking at all the menus and planning out our meals. Mmm...I totally think w/ my stomach!! Oh, and the food porn is great, thanks for suggesting it!

Does this mean that you have gone with the free dining? Are you doing the DDP?

 

[autumnpalm]

Ooh I'm curious if you'd decided to go with free dining too! You have a great restaurant list there.

 

[WDWRocksMySocks]

I agree; find pictures. There used to be a food porn thread over on the restaurant boards; I haven't been there in a while, but they'll help you out if you can't find it!

DH is really picky about Italian food too. He'll eat at Olive Garden, but doesn't really care for it (he calls it faux-Italian). I'm worried that if we go to Tutto Italia Ristorante, it won't be very good. I haven't really heard much about it on the boards. I couldn't find any food porn for it either.

It's still there, they're working on the 3rd one!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1919687

Thanks, Beka!

I am starving now too!

That's the number one problem w/ looking at all the food porn. I wind up starving...even if I've already ate! I'm a food addict for sure.

 

[WDWRocksMySocks]

Does this mean that you have gone with the free dining? Are you doing the DDP?

Ooh I'm curious if you'd decided to go with free dining too! You have a great restaurant list there.

We are currently deciding on whether we'll go to Universal. If we go to UO, then we won't be doing the DDP. If we don't go to UO, then we'll definitely be doing DDP!!

DH loves Universal, and I just got the Mouse Savers email advertising a great deal -- 2 day/ 2 park tickets for $75.00+tax.

 

[WDWRocksMySocks]

Weekly Weight Loss: 2 lbs
Total Weight Loss: 6 lbs
Days Spent Exercising: 4

Okay, I'm so relieved that this past week went well! I stayed on track and did my best to withstand temptation (i.e. heading to White Castle for lunch). I just wish it would warm up so we could walk outside. I'm desperately getting spring fever!!

 

[debraW76]

I know this may be an unpopular opinion, but it sounds like you and grumpy DH like the flexibility and therefore I would recommend you keeping the money and doing your own dining plan. Especially if you are planning on going outside the World. It just gives you so much more control. If I had no kids that is what I would do. jmo.

 

[debraW76]

i guess we were posting at the same time. Congrats on your 6 lbs!

 

[WDWRocksMySocks]

I know this may be an unpopular opinion, but it sounds like you and grumpy DH like the flexibility and therefore I would recommend you keeping the money and doing your own dining plan. Especially if you are planning on going outside the World. It just gives you so much more control. If I had no kids that is what I would do. jmo.

Look at you, being all rebellious and standing up against the DDP. I appreciate a different view point, as the insight definitely helps! I've always wanted to experience free dining -- even if it's just once. The one thing that really freaks me out about it is having to do ADRs and the control that looms over your head. We're kind of, "fly by the seat of your pants" types of people so I'm worried about having a set time to eat.

I know, I just need to make up my mind and choose an option already! I do have DH convinced about free dining, however he might change his mind once he sees the ticket prices for UO.

i guess we were posting at the same time. Congrats on your 6 lbs!

Great minds think alike, right?

Thanks! I'm definitely starting to notice...and I already feel a lot healthier!!

 

[Beka]

I seem to remember a few people saying on the FP thread that at Tutto there were some really good dishes. I remember one being some kind of cream sauce, but since I try to avoid those I didn't pay much attention. I don't remember if they said the lasagna was good or not. I agree with your DH about Olive Garden.

 

[WDWRocksMySocks]

I seem to remember a few people saying on the FP thread that at Tutto there were some really good dishes. I remember one being some kind of cream sauce, but since I try to avoid those I didn't pay much attention. I don't remember if they said the lasagna was good or not. I agree with your DH about Olive Garden.

I was able to find a few dining reviews that talked about Tutto on the restaurant thread. I'm going to post links on here in a bit.

Yeah, I tend to agree about OG too. But man, I sure do love that salad dressing!!

 

[WDWRocksMySocks]

I failed to mention that Friday was Aaron's 27th birthday! He was having some reservations about being 3 years closer to the big 3-0. But, overall he took it really well. We had a great weekend celebrating his birthday. We spent Friday night with both our families, which consists of: my Grandparents, Mom, two sisters, my four nephews, Aaron's parents and one of his nephews. We went to dinner at Olive Garden, which I must say...wasn't all that great, but he did get their chocolate cake that he loves so much. Afterwards, we all came back to our house to open presents. Here are some pictures from that:

DH and his nephew.

Me and DH

DH with some of our nephews.

Me, my sister and a few of our nephews.

On Saturday, we had a few of our friends over to celebrate. Aaron requested a homemade Italian dinner. I made chicken parmesan, alfredo sauce, mashed red potatoes and garlic cheese bread from scratch. Here's the recipes I used:

Chicken Parmesan
8 oz. chicken breast, split and pounded thin
Black pepper and kosher salt to taste
1 egg, beaten
2 cups seasoned breadcrumbs
1 oz. Romano cheese, grated
2 tbs of Italian seasoning
2 oz. olive oil

Alfredo Sauce
1 oz unsalted butter
3/4 cup heavy cream
Salt and white pepper, to taste
3 oz grated Romano

Mmm...so good!

Yeah...I was in the kitchen for awhile that day. THANK GOODNESS for a friend who helped. Otherwise, I think I'd still be cooking! Sadly, I didn't take any pictures of the food. However, I did take a few when he blew out his candles.

Ha, I love this one!

Here's a great action shot of DH licking the icing off the candles.

 

[debraW76]

Hey! What is wrong with the big 3-0?
It looks like you had a lot of fun. I love Italian food and we usually eat at olive Garden for my BD too! The alfredo recipe looks yummy. My DH makes his with cream cheese but yours sounds less fattening.

 

[WDWRocksMySocks]

Hey! What is wrong with the big 3-0?
It looks like you had a lot of fun. I love Italian food and we usually eat at olive Garden for my BD too! The alfredo recipe looks yummy. My DH makes his with cream cheese but yours sounds less fattening.

Ha, nothing is wrong with 30...unless you're DH. He's just freaking out a bit b/c he's just not finishing his undergrad work and he feels like he should have more accomplished by the time he turns 30. I told him he should be proud that he's getting a bachelor's degree (first one in his family!!!!!) and it doesn't matter what his age is. I also think he's a bit freaked out about it b/c we both agreed that we'd start trying to conceive at 30.

Mmm...cream cheese sounds good! I'd love to have that recipe. I'd say it's probably right up there in fat/calories. I used heavy cream, which had an enormous amount of fat and calories in it. But man, it was GOOD!!!

 

[shordiebecka]

yummm your food sounds so good! I'm 8 lbs down on a low fat diet so all i can do is dream and wish!

Make a decision about dining yet?

 

[Beka]

I was able to find a few dining reviews that talked about Tutto on the restaurant thread. I'm going to post links on here in a bit.

Yeah, I tend to agree about OG too. But man, I sure do love that salad dressing!!

Oooh the salad & breadsticks are good! I like to get an order of alfredo sauce for the breadsticks, but my thighs get mad at me cuz it makes them grow.

 

[autumnpalm]

Looks like a great birthday. The recipe you made sounds DELICIOUS. Mmmm if I had any cooking skills whatsoever I would totally go make that for dinner tonight! Did you make the cake yourself too?

Congrats on 2 more pounds lost! Sounds like you're doing awesome.

 

[WDWRocksMySocks]

yummm your food sounds so good! I'm 8 lbs down on a low fat diet so all i can do is dream and wish!

Make a decision about dining yet?

That is awesome -- congrats!!! What kinds of food are you eating on your diet? I need any suggestions I can get.

I think we're going to do it!!! It's like pulling teeth to get DH to decide, though. I know we're not planning on going to Universal now, which I'm kind of sad about. But, I am really excited about free dining!!!! Hopefully, I'll get a decision from him very, VERY soon. ::crosses fingers::

Oooh the salad & breadsticks are good! I like to get an order of alfredo sauce for the breadsticks, but my thighs get mad at me cuz it makes them grow.

Aaron loves to get a side of alfredo too. I just stick to dipping the breadsticks in the salad dressing, which I'm sure isn't that healthy. But it's SOOO good. Mmm...

Looks like a great birthday. The recipe you made sounds DELICIOUS. Mmmm if I had any cooking skills whatsoever I would totally go make that for dinner tonight! Did you make the cake yourself too?

Congrats on 2 more pounds lost! Sounds like you're doing awesome.

Yeah, it really was a lot of fun! The recipe is incredibly easy and extremely good. You should try it! Oh, and yeah I made the cake and a friend helped me decorate. We were trying to cook and do the cake at the same time. I thought I was good at multi-tasking, but apparently not so much in the kitchen.

Thanks!! It's been tough to stay away from all those fatty foods I used to love so much. I also LOVE candy, so that's been tough too. But, now I really feel like I don't miss all that stuff too much. My biggest thing is portion control. It's hard!

 

[tinkgurl]

Here's a great action shot of DH licking the icing off the candles.

I love licking the icing off the candles!

 

[WDWRocksMySocks]

I've debated on whether we actually need a car this trip. However, I start thinking of not having one, and the control freak in me really starts panicking.

We always like to have a car while we're there because...

1. We're control freaks who want to go where we want, when we want.
2. We like to eat off Disney property.
3. I love shopping at the outlets.
4. We like to have the option of using the car to get around on Disney property...just in case.
5. We usually go to Universal.
6. We HAVE to go to the Florida Mall at least once during our trip.
7. We are considering spending a day at the beach.

So, I've started tracking car rental rates. Last October, I was able to find a really sweet deal through Alamo (7 days for $90/total!!!). I'm hoping that I get lucky again. I am a religious user of MouseSavers and their "Rental Car Discounts" page is AMAZING!!!! I highly recommend it.

Here's what I've been able to find so far:

Alamo
On-site
$269.40 for an economy car using Wal-Mart code (#430710)
$460.11 for economy car using NO code (YIKES!!!)

Budget
On-site
$306.12 for compact car using Budget code (U110900)
$279.22 for compact car using SWA Rapid Rewards code (U109700)
$302.70 for compact car using NO code

Enterprise
Off-site
$299.29 for compact car using travel code from work
$278.11 for compact car using NO code

Dollar
On-site
$463.84 for economy car using SW Rapid Rewards code (SW2358)
$463.84 for economy car using NO code

Avis
On-site
$317.82 for compact car using Avis weekly code (MUWA054)
$317.82 for compact car using NO code

Thrifty
Off-site
$469.16 for compact car using NO code