Geeks on a budget - 12/22, complete! Read reflections within....

[Database]

Awe. I love you're updated trippie. Can't wait to get to AK in January.

No more feeling sorry for myself at having to work full saturdays come September!

 

[zweihund]

News: we have tested the alcohol.

On Friday, I asked Lionel if he would like to go on a date.
"Where?"
"How about dinner? At Pei Wei?" (inspired by Mozart)
"Ok!"
"And maybe a trip to the liquor store....."
"What?"

Can I just say? A liquor superstore has some of the best people watching you can get without buying a park ticket. There was the older couple in the vodka aisle squealing with delight over the Absolut Peppar. There was the youngish couple perusing the microbrews and discussing the finer qualities of beer. There was the lady who brought her two children with her and was letting them run wildly down the aisles of expensive wine (brave, or just plain stupid.....you decide!). But mostly? There was BOOZE. Miles and miles of it.

After nearly getting lost in the wine section, we found what we were looking for: O'Mara's Irish Cream. Brenda was not kidding when she said this stuff was ridiculously cheap! $7 for a regular-sized bottle! Score!
We browsed for about a half hour before settling on the rest of our purchases: Skyy Vanilla vodka, and Creme de Cacao (white). Why, you ask?

Well, a wedding cake martini, of course!

It took a few tries, but we finally got the proportions figured out. Here is the recipe, which is the closest to the Carrabbas version that we can get without actually stalking the bartender:

2 1/2 oz White Creme de Cacao
1 oz Skyy Vanilla vodka (though I'm sure you could use ANY vanilla.....Carrabbas uses Skyy)
1 1/2 oz pineapple juice

Shake it like a polaroid picture, and the serve in a chilled martini glass while you go and watch the episode of So You Think You Can Dance that you recorded last week, and you will be living my most recent Friday night. PARTY!

Last night we tried the other potential drink option, which was Vanilla vodka and coke. Tasty! And of course, the O'Maras was as wonderful as we remembered from last year's Food and Wine festival. Not quite as sickly sweet as Bailey's.

The verdict? We like the adult version of vanilla coke, but fear it will be too sweet to last us an entire weekend. The martini is the same. Though, I am considering making up a small bottle's worth and bringing it pre-mixed for the beach day at Castaway Cay. The Irish Cream is a hit. So what does this mean? Back to the drawing board.

I think we will end up with a plain bottle of vodka (which will cost anywhere from $16-22 depending on what quality we end up going for), a mixer of some sort (we saw another version of the pomegranate martini for $5 by the same company who makes an apple flavor we liked), and the O'Mara's ($7). That gives us the option of vodka and coke/sprite, screwdrivers (do they have orange juice at the drink stations? if not, there's always room service), wine for dinner (and with the All Hands on Deck cheese platter from room service), Irish Cream for after dinner, or Irish coffee (yay for the beverage station!) anytime we want. Assuming we bring one or two bottles of wine from our cabinet, and it will bring the total booze bill to roughly $34, at the max. Not bad for three folks, eh?

I should have been an accountant.

 

[anewmac]

I think we will end up with a plain bottle of vodka (which will cost anywhere from $16-22 depending on what quality we end up going for), a mixer of some sort (we saw another version of the pomegranate martini for $5 by the same company who makes an apple flavor we liked), and the O'Mara's ($7). That gives us the option of vodka and coke/sprite, screwdrivers (do they have orange juice at the drink stations? if not, there's always room service), wine for dinner (and with the All Hands on Deck cheese platter from room service), Irish Cream for after dinner, or Irish coffee (yay for the beverage station!) anytime we want. Assuming we bring one or two bottles of wine from our cabinet, and it will bring the total booze bill to roughly $34, at the max. Not bad for three folks, eh?

I should have been an accountant.

You could make some adult Shirley Temples too if you take a bottle of Grenadine. Just add Vodka to 7up and add a splash of grenadine NO CHERRY LOL . Presto Chango... Adult SHirley Temple... What would you call an adult Shirely Temple.. besides OLD... Maraline Manroe???... Pamela Anderson?? LOL

 

[ArmandXG]

Just lurking, but I had to comment on the booze. I prefer Bailey's myself...I guess it's all a matter of personal taste
I packed a 12 pak of the mini bottles of Captain Morgan's spiced rum for our last cruise (Bailey's and Famous Grouse as well). I would grab 2 bottles for dinner and add them to my coke. Saved us $$$!

 

[zweihund]

You could make some adult Shirley Temples too if you take a bottle of Grenadine. Just add Vodka to 7up and add a splash of grenadine NO CHERRY LOL . Presto Chango... Adult SHirley Temple... What would you call an adult Shirely Temple.. besides OLD... Maraline Manroe???... Pamela Anderson?? LOL

Maybe an Angelina Jolie?

Just lurking, but I had to comment on the booze. I prefer Bailey's myself...I guess it's all a matter of personal taste
I packed a 12 pak of the mini bottles of Captain Morgan's spiced rum for our last cruise (Bailey's and Famous Grouse as well). I would grab 2 bottles for dinner and add them to my coke. Saved us $$$!

Total Wine had a huge mini-bottle selection as well. My favorite was the tiny Chambord. I brandished it in front of Lionel and exclaimed "I know you're not supposed to say this about booze, but it's so cute!"

 

[oybolshoi]

Hi Erica! Long time no post... glad to read that you liked the OMara's (I wish I was drinking some right now). Would you believe that I can no longer find it here in St. Louis?

Say...any chance you and Lionel will be able to meet up with Jay and me and some other random DISsers for PFTS on October 20th? We'd love to have you and share much food and alcohol inspired mirthfulness.

 

[zweihund]

Hi Erica! Long time no post... glad to read that you liked the OMara's (I wish I was drinking some right now). Would you believe that I can no longer find it here in St. Louis?

Say...any chance you and Lionel will be able to meet up with Jay and me and some other random DISsers for PFTS on October 20th? We'd love to have you and share much food and alcohol inspired mirthfulness.

I think we can arrange that! Hmmm.....mutual food report?
If you like, I can even bring you a few bottles of your beloved Irish Cream.

 

[oybolshoi]

I think we can arrange that! Hmmm.....mutual food report?
If you like, I can even bring you a few bottles of your beloved Irish Cream.

Erica, if you decide to come to PFTS check out the meet thread we've got going. There are about 16 people signed up so far for a meet 'n' eat 'n' greet that night.

As for the Irish Cream... maybe one bottle... unless I can figure out a way to get it home 'cause there's no way we can drink it all up before leaving on the 25th.

 

[zweihund]

Erica, if you decide to come to PFTS check out the meet thread we've got going. There are about 16 people signed up so far for a meet 'n' eat 'n' greet that night.

As for the Irish Cream... maybe one bottle... unless I can figure out a way to get it home 'cause there's no way we can drink it all up before leaving on the 25th.

Oh, Brenda. I am disappointed in you.



Send me the link and I'm there! I showed the info to Lionel and at first he was like "$125!!!!!!!!" But then he saw the rest of the description, and he said "mmmmmm......" and started drooling like Homer Simpson.

I totally married the right man.

 

[zweihund]

Yesterday, I was strolling through the aisles of my local Publix grocer, minding my own business and dutifully sticking to "the list" when I saw it:

Pomegranate martini mixer. The one we wanted to try. With a $1 off coupon dangling from its slender neck.

Needless to say, it is sitting on the kitchen counter awaiting a test run later this evening. I promise keep you all informed.

 

[oybolshoi]

Oh, Brenda. I am disappointed in you.

I know, I know... but with so many other things to drink I have to draw the line somewhere!

Send me the link and I'm there! I showed the info to Lionel and at first he was like "$125!!!!!!!!" But then he saw the rest of the description, and he said "mmmmmm......" and started drooling like Homer Simpson.

I totally married the right man.

Excellent! Here's the link:

Join Us...


Tell Homer, I mean Lionel, that Jay and I can't wait to finally meet you guys!

 

[zweihund]

An update on the martinis:

The pomegranate mixer was......okay.....
It was, in my humble opinion, better than the other mix we tried but still a little too sugary. It was definately more pomegranatey. IF that is even a word.

We checked the Carrabbas menu, and as it turns out their pom martinis are made from Absolut Apeach, pomegranate juice and sprite. Since we're not lugging all of that with us, it's back to the drawing board AGAIN. Who knew bringing your own booze was so complicated? Or maybe it's just us. At least the sampling has been fun.

So we're still thinking of a bottle of vodka to mix with sodas onboard, a bottle of the Irish Cream, and likely two bottles of wine. I might add a small bottle of pre-mixed Wedding Cake Martini as previously mentioned, and I might also bring a little bit of the pomegranate mix just for a change of flavor.

It's a good thing Lionel and I pack fairly light, because we're going to need an extra bag for all of the bottles. Hey Sarah - we may be stashing a few in your suitcase too so we don't look like complete lushes!

Update to trippie-within-a-pre-trippie coming this evening, if all goes according to plans.

 

[silversae]

Um.... about that stashing of booze in MY suitcase... who needs a suitcase! Don't i just have to slide into my bikini and go? Looking forward to the next great burn...er tan..ya that's it

 

[zweihund]

Trippie-within-a-pre-trippie installment, part something: a non-Disney day.

Yes, Wednesday we took a day off from Disney to have some girlie pampering in the form of pedicures, and to hit the outlet malls. Sarah had heard about “Bitten” which is the new clothing line by Sarah Jessica Parker. I discovered that the only local Steve and Barry’s, where the line is exclusive, was at the Festival Bay Mall which is about ¼ mile from the major outlets on International Drive.

Outlets? We are soooooo there.

Well, if you’ve read the middle of this pre-trippie you know that we scored big-time at Steve and Barry’s. $7 shirts! $15 shorts! Madness, I tell you, MADNESS! I was impressed by the quality of the Bitten line, because at those prices you would not expect the garments to hold up to anything as severe as, say, a wash in the delicate cycle. But they are truly awesome. We liked. We liked a lot.

We also hit the Gap outlet, one of my favorite places to shop, and scored some more. And we even stopped at Target on the way home, to complete the perfect shopping trifecta (and because apparently Burt’s Bees products are wicked expensive in Canada).

In the evening, we Wii-ed the night away with some other local friends. Here we are, looking quite serious about Super Mario Party.

Don’t hate us because we have pretty toenails AND we beat you in a video game:

Next? We hit Epcot. Alcoholic slushies abound!

 

[zweihund]

Um.... about that stashing of booze in MY suitcase... who needs a suitcase! Don't i just have to slide into my bikini and go? Looking forward to the next great burn...er tan..ya that's it

You, missus, will need spf 1000!

 

[silversae]

You, missus, will need spf 1000!

For those of you who don't know, I'm the whiter than white version of a canadian. I came home from Florida, and erica can attest to the fact that I got a serious burn on my last day, and you know what people up here said???

"Where's your tan?"

All I succeeded in doing when I removed my sandal to show them my tank line was make them laugh at the fact that I could be even whiter than I was with a burn!

Erica-wait till you see me in october and i'm still sporting the "tan" from July. It's a sad sight...

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Finally all caught up on your Trippie in a Trippie, Erica - lovin' it!

 

[zweihund]

For those of you who don't know, I'm the whiter than white version of a canadian. I came home from Florida, and erica can attest to the fact that I got a serious burn on my last day, and you know what people up here said???

"Where's your tan?"

All I succeeded in doing when I removed my sandal to show them my tank line was make them laugh at the fact that I could be even whiter than I was with a burn!

Erica-wait till you see me in october and i'm still sporting the "tan" from July. It's a sad sight...

Sarah is actually transparent.

Finally all caught up on your Trippie in a Trippie, Erica - lovin' it!

Thanks Tammie!

In somewhat related trip news, I snagged an extra battery for our digital camera today on ebay for $9, including shipping and handling. Now we won't miss a thing. Unless we're too tipsy to point the camera with any accuracy.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Be sure you post THAT video

 

[anewmac]

In somewhat related trip news, I snagged an extra battery for our digital camera today on ebay for $9, including shipping and handling. Now we won't miss a thing. Unless we're too tipsy to point the camera with any accuracy.

I personally think any drunk video taping is WAY better then the actual taping that was originally intended. Just like drunken picture taking LOL