s it too early to start packing yet?
Lately I've been feeling as if I'm running out of things to do before my trip. I know this makes no sense to anyone but me, but normally I'm running around like a nut until the very last minute trying to get everything done. This time I'm feeling like all the big stuff is done. It must be my fellow Lapuette's being a good influence on me.
This week I took care of the rest of the big stuff. Monday was our 45 day mark, so final payment was made on the balance of the trip.

I'll still have to pay for the second half of the room only portion of our trip, but that isnt' until check in. I also still owe my mother $150 more, but I'm just waiting on my brother to pay me for his portion of our Segway tour for the money.
Sunday I also finally stopped procrastinating and ordered my tickets for the first two days before my package kicks in. I ordered them from Undercover Tourist and got a pretty good deal with the Mousesavers discount. I did a little shopping around and they really were the best price I could find. I ended up going with a 5 day, non expiring, non hopper pass. That will cover my first 2 days this year, and then 3 days towards a solo weekend trip next December. I wasn't sure about adding the park hopper option, so I figured that I could always add that next December when I would need it. I actually would have preferred a 6 day pass so I'd have 4 days next year, but that
UT didn't have that option.

The deal for the 5 day pass was good so I just went with it. I'll just deal with next year's trip next year.
I also took care of a few smaller things this week. I bought my Lush solid shampoo for the trip. This can also double up as my body soap so will cut down on how much I have to pack. Plus as it's solid so I can carry it with no worries in my carry on bag. I absolutely adore the stuff. I shopped at my first Lush store at the Orlando airport last year and got hooked. Definitely a dangerous place for my wallet.
I still have a few things to take care of so I'm going to channel our Lady Listy and get my act together.
1. Pick up a mail hold form at the post office. Normally when I go away one of my parents would run by and check my mail, but as they will be with me this year I have to make other arrangements. I used to have a wonderful neighbor I'd ask, but she moved and I don't really trust my other neighbors. Much easier just to have them hold it at the post office, and then deliver everything when I return.
2. Put in request for my Disney Visa rewards card as soon as the points I earned from purchasing my passes register. I plan on using my rewards points as my personal souvenier money. I don't plan on spending a lot of money on souveniers but I do have a couple of things I'm thinking of buying. Since I work so close to World of Disney it's just silly for me to lug things home on the plane that I can just bring home from work with me. Still I'm thinking of the following souveniers:
- A princess dress for my American Girl doll. They just don't carry these in NY any longer.
- A new piece of jewelry from the pick a pearl location at the Japan pavillion in Epcot.
- A new Disney beach towel.
- Any new Donald Duck rubber duckies that may have come out.
- Possibly some new mouse ears.

I still haven't forgiven myself for passing on the glow in the dark Mickey treat pails last Halloween, so this year if there is something I really want I'm buying it. (Within reason of course). I regretting not buying that pail immediately last year, and by the time my parents got down there during Halloween week they were sold out.
3. Make my tip envelopes and get money ready for them before hand. Most of our meals are buffets and family style meals, so I can really have all this stuff ready to go ahead of time. I am figuring my tips for my
DDP meals to come up to about $42. I also am planning on another $200 or so for my two OOP meals (Brown Derby and Crystal Palace) as well as my CS meals the first two days, breakfast the day we leave for Disney, and a glass of wine or two at dinner. I just don't want to find myself short in this area. I also need to get tip envelopes made for mousekeeping and for the princess's FGIT.
4. Review my "delicates" situation, and be sure I have enough comfy ones for the trip. Put in an order with VS if I don't have enough. I think I need a few new bras, and am ticked with myself for missing out on using the $15 off code I had. I tend to be very picky when on vacation - only the most comfortable ones will do.
5. Make an appointment for an eye exam. My contacts have been driving me nuts, and I think I need new ones. I've been wearing my glasses, but don't really want to have to wear them daily in Disney when it's so hot.
6. Deceide if I want to lug my laptop along with me. This will determine which personal bag I carry. I brought it with me last year, and liked it for watching a movie on the plane, but it's heavy and I don't know if I want to bother. I purchased a video nano ipod this year, so I can always just remove the majority of music from it and put on a few movies instead. Would be much easier to carry, and I could lock it up in the room safe.
7. Possibly pick up some new shorts. If I can stick to my diet and drop about 10 lbs or so before the trip, my existing shorts will be fine. If I don't they will be a bit snug. This should be reason enough to stick to the diet, as I certainly would rather not have to waste money on more shorts when I already own plenty.
8. Make matching T-Shirts for the family. I have the supplies waiting, and a cute design that someone on the Creative Disigns made for me I just need to get them made. The grandfathers have even agreed to wear matching shirts.
9. Last, but certainly not of least. Go to Home Depot on a mission to liberate Alien Green Mickey heads before they become part of a government conspiracy and get rounded up by Scully and Mulder. Of course their liberation will be short lived as I plan on locking them between two melted pieces of plastic. Last year I didn't laminate my LGMH's and it with the all the rain they were little wadded up bunchs of paper in not time. (And can you tell I'm dying for the new X-Files movie?)
I think that's it. I hope that's it. I've been tempted to try making some tie dyed Mickey shirts for the girls, but haven't committed to that yet. It's still a possibility though.