Guilt and the Guilty Pleasure – A Single Mom’s April 2011 PTR for a Surprise Birthday

[Victoriasmom98]

OH, doesn't Minnie look absolutely beautiful!!! And those shoes matched perfectly!!! I'm so glad she had a great time. Victoria never got to do any of those things with her father......she now has Peter, but still.....you would think her bio dad would take some interest in her.

Yeah, I get into planning other's trips for them, too! You are like me and we both wish we had "real life" friends to go on trips with. Don't get me wrong because I love my little family, but I think it would be lots of fun. That's it....I'm moving to VA so we can become best friends and go on WDW trips together every year!!!!

Yeah, I'm dreaming now.......

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

I can tell pretty quick if they think I'm a nut too...b/c they ALWAYS think I am!

Minnie looks beautiful!!! What a special night for her!

 

[micandminforever]

Minnie made the perfect princess in her party dress and shoes. I love how her earrings and bracelet brings out the blue in the dress. She did a great job modeling the dress.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Minnie is absolutely beautiful in that dress! Glad she had a good time at the dance.

 

[Tink-erin-belle]

I also get excited when other people start planning a trip to WDW- I can tell pretty quickly by the look on their face if they think I'm a helpful expert or just a total nut.

Love the pics of Minnie in her dress. And a father daughter dance sounds so sweet.

Yeah, I'm hoping for a face to face conversation with my coworker today to see if he thinks I'm a freak or just a woman who knows her stuff

Thank you for the compliments on Minnie's dress! She truly enjoyed herself that night

OH, doesn't Minnie look absolutely beautiful!!! And those shoes matched perfectly!!! I'm so glad she had a great time. Victoria never got to do any of those things with her father......she now has Peter, but still.....you would think her bio dad would take some interest in her.

Yeah, I get into planning other's trips for them, too! You are like me and we both wish we had "real life" friends to go on trips with. Don't get me wrong because I love my little family, but I think it would be lots of fun. That's it....I'm moving to VA so we can become best friends and go on WDW trips together every year!!!!

Yeah, I'm dreaming now.......

Thank you, Ann! She was very happy with her dress and her "big girl shoes". Of course, once she knew she could wear women's shoes, she wanted heels, but I had to say no to that request It really is too bad Victoria's bio dad doesn't do things with her. He has no idea what he is missing. I'm glad she has Peter as a father figure now

Yeah, I love having you guys on the DIS and let's face it - people who take great pleasure in planning Disney trips are probably few and far between So yeah, come on down to VA! We'd love to have you! And we have pretty great seafood here too, but I can't imagine that it's better than what you have in Maine! Yum! BUT...it's warmer in VA and you can always go back to Maine to visit when it gets too hot and humid here in the Summer! It all works out

I can tell pretty quick if they think I'm a nut too...b/c they ALWAYS think I am!

Minnie looks beautiful!!! What a special night for her!

Yeah, that was the bad thing about talking to him over IM - I couldn't read the reaction on his face. I guess I'll see later in the day if he can look me in the eye

Thank you for the compliments, Karen. It really was a wonderful night for her to share with her dad. She talked about it almost all weekend

Minnie made the perfect princess in her party dress and shoes. I love how her earrings and bracelet brings out the blue in the dress. She did a great job modeling the dress.

Thank you! She picked out the accessories all by herself! She was so happy with her look that I could barely get her to stop posing so that I could get a full length shot of her so that we could see the whole outfit! When I asked her to turn around so I could get the back of the dress, she did that over-the-shoulder pose! Yes, she is definitely a diva...I mean princess

Minnie is absolutely beautiful in that dress! Glad she had a good time at the dance.

Thank you, Jackie! She was so pretty and so excited! She really did have a wonderful time playing with her friends, eating tons of sweets (without making a mess on her dress, I might add ) and the best part was getting to spend that quality time with her dad. She came home glowing, with little pink cheeks and a big smile

 

[Victoriasmom98]

[SIZE="3]Wow!!! Do you realize that you leave really, really soon???!!! Of course you do!!! OMG!! According to all your lists, though, it sounds as though you are ready! I envy you!!! Thank you for your opinion of the Garden Grill. That made me even more excited than I was before! As for moving to VA, well.....we first have to get Victoria through high school and college. See, she gets to attend the college her bio dad works at for free, so college for her is NOT an option! I mean who would waste that opportunity, right? We want to be here in Maine through her schooling and then we will probably pick up and move south. Not sure how south at this point, thought. My skills as a child support enforcement agent should be able to get me hired doing the same type of thing in a different state. As for Peter, he should be able to get another position in his same field as well. I keep telling him I want to move to Orlando and work for Disney!!! [/SIZE]

 

[Tink-erin-belle]

Wow!!! Do you realize that you leave really, really soon???!!! Of course you do!!! OMG!! According to all your lists, though, it sounds as though you are ready! I envy you!!! Thank you for your opinion of the Garden Grill. That made me even more excited than I was before! As for moving to VA, well.....we first have to get Victoria through high school and college. See, she gets to attend the college her bio dad works at for free, so college for her is NOT an option! I mean who would waste that opportunity, right? We want to be here in Maine through her schooling and then we will probably pick up and move south. Not sure how south at this point, thought. My skills as a child support enforcement agent should be able to get me hired doing the same type of thing in a different state. As for Peter, he should be able to get another position in his same field as well. I keep telling him I want to move to Orlando and work for Disney!!!

Oh, I know! I am getting really excited! You know, my kids have been asking me if we could move to Orlando too. I wonder what industries are there besides tourism? Anyway, I know I could never live there or anywhere in FL for that matter. Way too hot for me! It gets too hot in VA for me sometimes too! I think I am more suited to live in Hawaii and I think the kids wouldn’t complain either How wonderful that Victoria will get free tuition! You are absolutely right that it makes not going to college not an option! That is a wonderful opportunity. I need to find my ex-husband a job at a university around here…the plotting begins…

 

[Tink-erin-belle]

45 Days!!!

 

[-Hope-]

45 Days!!!

​

 

[tinkerbells mum]

45 Days!!!

and counting

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

WHOHOOOOOO!!!!!!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Hurray for 45 Days!!!

 

[Tink-erin-belle]

​

I'm too excited!

and counting

We're so close!

WHOHOOOOOO!!!!!!

I just started reading your PTR. I think I'm on page 8

Hurray for 45 Days!!!

I feel like I'm going to burst with excitement!

 

[Tink-erin-belle]

We had quite a few deliveries last week! The first was a surprise because I wasn’t expecting this package for a few more days, but on Monday the kids got their cell phones!





They are so happy with them and have been texting me like crazy! Especially Minnie since she was the one begging for a phone in the first place.

I also got a delivery from Amazon on Monday with my brand new copy of The Unofficial Guide for 2011:



Oddly enough, the content doesn’t seem very different from the UGs I have from 2008, 2009 and 2010 Just kidding! Obviously, there isn’t a whole lot that changes from year to year, but I don’t get it for that. I get it because I HAVE TO HAVE IT It’s a tradition thing. Plus, buying the book gives a discount when subscribing to touringplans.com and I rely on that information heavily when planning what days to go to which park. BUT…there is a section in UG on WWoHP and we are definitely going there this Winter before our Disney trip. Gasp! The Horror! The shame! Universal Studios! I’m thinking we’ll spend two days at one of their hotels and then spend the rest of the week at a Disney resort – mostly because I am concerned about going to Universal and being disappointed that it doesn’t have all of that magic like Disney does. At least that is how I remember it. Whoa! Tangent! Moving on… Even if there isn’t a ton of new information in the UG this year, I’m still going to be reading it this week and making our touring plans.

On Tuesday, I got a package from LL Bean! I was really excited about this but couldn’t open it in front of the kids because I didn’t want them to ask too many questions. They already asked, “What’s that?” and I casually answered that it was just a present I brought for myself for my birthday ( tomorrow is my birthday ). So I put it in my bedroom and waited for an opportunity to open my coveted package. This is what I ordered:



They are lightweight hiking packs called Stowaway Day Packs. Chip’s is in Dark Royal Blue:



Minnie’s is in Meadow Violet:



Mine is in Cayenne:



I read reviews online and they are supposed to be very durable and hold a lot. These bags are what I would call medium sized and are definitely big enough for the kids to hold a couple of bottled waters, a cell phone and a camera – and for me to hold all of that plus some more stuff They are also squishy enough to squeeze under our legs or in those pockets when we’re on rides. Also, they call it “Stowaway” because it can fold up into its own front pocket to stow away when it’s empty! This is appealing to me because it’s an inevitability that one or both kids will not want to carry their pack by the end of the day. See? Always thinking. A plan for everything. It’s a sickness, really. LOL Anyway, I’ll just fold it up and put it and their camera in my bag if/when that happens.

So after two days of deliveries, I was almost disappointed not to see a package waiting for me on Wednesday. I wasn’t expecting anything…I just wanted something Then on Thursday, I got the package I was anxiously waiting to get! It was my Avon package from none other than Ann (Victoriasmom98)! I was glad I could support my DIS friend rather than buy Avon from some stranger at the mall! Here’s what I got:



I usually get the Skin So Soft bug repellant lotion, but this time I got a spray bottle:



I also got some wipes that I’ll take to the parks with us:



We’ve never had a bug problem in the parks during the last two trips, but I don’t know what to expect for Spring – especially because of the Flower and Garden Festival. Besides, Minnie and I are mosquito magnets! I’m not even kidding! If there is a mosquito within a 100 mile radius, it will find us and get us! Chip isn’t as unlucky with the mosquitoes, they seem to prefer me and Minnie. In any case, Skin So Soft insect repellant is the ONLY repellant that works for me and my kids – and trust me, I have tried everything short of bathing in DEET

By the way, when the kids saw this package, I also explained that it was a birthday present for myself, but I opened it in front of them. They both asked why I would get myself bug spray for a present! I just laughed I did get the lotion for myself, though. You know, since I used up the H2O lotion already LOL



So I got vanilla because I always get vanilla and it always smells good. Oh, and I heard somewhere that men like the scent of vanilla – something about it reminding them of baked goods! So that’s my new man-catching lotion



I also got this violet & lychee lotion to try something different. I love it! I wore it that night when we went to Chip’s Middle School orientation. My baby is going to 7th grade?!? Before I get choked up, let me show you the other lotion I got:



This pomegranate & mango lotion is new to me too and I love it! I wore it to work on Friday and took it with me to use all day. Also, I should say that the lotions are all very moisturizing. I think they broke my H2O addiction because in all honesty, if I ordered H2O products again, I would have used up all of the lotion AGAIN and I would have had to order even more! So now I can order the H2O lotion and actually save it this time for our trip! So I think the lotion and Minnie’s dress for BBB are the only other things I have to order now. We’ll see

 

[Victoriasmom98]

That is sooo exciting!!! It's funny to hear you talk about LLBean as they are only 35 or so minutes from here. And I love being mentioned in your ptr!!!! I feel special!!!

 

[-Hope-]

You got lots of great stuff! I like those backpacks- the idea of them folding up into themselves is really appealing to me! I'm probably going to get a Baggallini for myself but these might be great for the kids.

I love that the vanilla lotion is your "man-catching" lotion!

I can't believe you've managed to keep it a secret for so long with your kids! I am way too much of a blabber-mouth to ever pull that off.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Happy Happy Birthday!!!

That's the same phone Chelsea has!

Pretty, pretty Unofficial Guide! I just love new books!

Those bags look great! You really had a lot of treats arrive this week!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!
I hope you have a great day! I'm on the search for a good bag too, I need something to hold my camera that isn't as stiff as my camera bag, but still protects it when I need to put it away on a ride. Those bags look really cool!

I don't know how you are keeping it a secret from your kids! I'm REALLY bad at keeping secrets.

 

[Tink-erin-belle]

Thank you, guys, for all of the birthday wishes! I just changed my signature to say "Erin - 38"

That is sooo exciting!!! It's funny to hear you talk about LLBean as they are only 35 or so minutes from here. And I love being mentioned in your ptr!!!! I feel special!!!

LL Bean HQ is that close to you? Cool! What I find funny is that I have 2 LL Bean stores very close by in malls near my house, but I never go there and I shop online instead! And of course I'm going to put you on my PTR! You helped to feed my scented lotion addiction!

You got lots of great stuff! I like those backpacks- the idea of them folding up into themselves is really appealing to me! I'm probably going to get a Baggallini for myself but these might be great for the kids.

I love that the vanilla lotion is your "man-catching" lotion!

I can't believe you've managed to keep it a secret for so long with your kids! I am way too much of a blabber-mouth to ever pull that off.

Yes, the bags folding up into themselves was definitely the major selling point on those bags. I've heard a lot of good things on the boards about baggallini too, though. So, I'm wearing the vanilla man-catching lotion today. I'll let you know if I have any success with it It's funny, though, because last year I wore a pear lotion from Victoria's Secret and I had men complimenting me all day! I need to get some more of that too As far as keeping the trip a secret, I have been bursting at the seams! I'm doing my best to keep it in, though.

Happy Happy Birthday!!!

That's the same phone Chelsea has!

Pretty, pretty Unofficial Guide! I just love new books!

Those bags look great! You really had a lot of treats arrive this week!

Oh, that's so cool Chelsea has the same phone! I hope she likes it! The kids really like their's. Minnie called me at about 2am on Saturday because she was at her dad's and couldn't sleep but I was glad she was able to call me and we had a nice, quick talk and she went to bed. When she came home, I asked her not to call after a certain time unless it's an emergency because it freaks mommy out! so she promised to talk to her dad the next time she can't sleep. Anyway, we did get a lot of great deliveries! I'm glad I'm not the only one who loves a brand new book!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!
I hope you have a great day! I'm on the search for a good bag too, I need something to hold my camera that isn't as stiff as my camera bag, but still protects it when I need to put it away on a ride. Those bags look really cool!

I don't know how you are keeping it a secret from your kids! I'm REALLY bad at keeping secrets.

I hope you can find a good bag! From what I've read, camera bags can be a bit heavy and cumbersome. But I guess you have to really protect a nice camera like you have! I think that is part of the reason I'm still on the fence about getting a DSLR. You and Hope (and another girl at work) take such beautiful pictures with your nice cameras that all 3 of you have inspired me to get more serious about photography. But it's a somewhat expensive hobby and the equipment looks heavy! I think I might just get a really good point and shoot for this trip and wait to get a higher quality camera after the trip. As far as keeping the trip a secret, I really feel like I'm going to slip one day! But it's a little over a month away, so I think I can do it. I think...

 

[Victoriasmom98]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU....HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.....HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR ERIN, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU......bday: