Mom needs a Break... so I'm going ALONE! PTR *NOW W/ PICS!*

[2xcited2sleep]

Glad you had fun at Jonas Brothers. I'm clearly WAY out of their target demographic and am not supposed to "get them" but I swear everytime I see pictures of them all I can think to myself is "how can they breathe with their pants so tight?!"

 

[ILuvCrush]

Glad you had fun at Jonas Brothers. I'm clearly WAY out of their target demographic and am not supposed to "get them" but I swear everytime I see pictures of them all I can think to myself is "how can they breathe with their pants so tight?!"

I never really noticed until the concert...and seriously...i thought joe was wearing spandex!!

I'm also WAY out of their demographic...but I REALLY do like them!! My DH claims its nature taking its course...I'm hearing my biological clock ticking away...so now i'm obsessed with 18-20yo guys!!

I'm glad you stopped by... I'm borrowing you F&W menu post!! I've been perusing the food porn lately...and I need to do a foodie post!!! Thanks 2xcited2sleep!!

 

[ILuvCrush]

OK maybe it's not ALL about the food...but I LOVE to eat!! and for some reason the food boards and posts have been calling out to me!!! So I decided I'm going to do a little virtual dining... based on allearsnets menus and other such venues. I'm also swiping Christine's F&W post and doing a little imaginary gnoching around WS!!!

OK lets start with F&W
Montreal, Canada – Cheddar Cheese Soup, Maple Glazed Salmon, Maple Custard with Almond Crumble I've never tried the cheddar soup..this may be a necessity
Boston – Hops & Barley – Boston Crab Cake, New England Lobster Roll I really don't care for most seafood...so this is a pass
San Francisco, USA – Seared Beef Medallion with Cheese Polenta, California Strawberry Shortcake I'm an east coast girl...so San Fransisco sounds exotic enough for me...yum!!
Louisiana, USA – Crawfish Etoufée, Seafood Gumbo and Praline Bread Pudding Again with the shellfish...but the praline bread pudding sounds yummy!!
Buenos Aires, Argentina – Beef & Corn Casserole, Grilled Beef with Chimichurri
Santiago, Chile – Empanada, Dulce de Leche Yummy yum yum!!
Mexico City, Mexico – Chilaquiles, Quesadilla con Chorizo sounds good...but if I'm going to eat in Santiago.....
Reims – Champagne – Selection of Moët & Chandon Champagnes, French Chocolates This is SO on my List!! Champagne and chocolate...how could it not be!!
Lyon, France – Escargot Persillade en Brioche, Quiche Provençal, Crème Brulée au Chocolat I would be more likely to try escargot if I DIDN'T know what it was!! I'm going to be on a serious sugar rush...that brulee sounds wonderful!!
Munich, Germany – Spaetzle with Creamy Mushroom Ragout, Apple Strudel Mmmmm haven't had good german food for SO long!!!
Athens, Greece – Greek Salad, Spanakopita
Cork, Ireland – Potato Leek Soup with an Irish Cheddar Cheese Stick, Irish Cheese Selection with Apple Chutney and Brown Bread I need that cheese apply chutney and brown bread...I NEED it really!!Bologna, Italy – Baked Ziti, Mascarpone Cream Puff with Gianduja Chocolate Sounds delish...but not something I couldn't have a home...may need to pass solely to save room in the inn!!
Barcelona, Spain – Cold Tomato and Garlic Soup, Seared Tuna Loin with Roasted Red Peppers
Vienna, Austria – Tafelspitz, Beef Goulash Krakow ,
Poland – Creamy Wild Mushroom Soup, Keilbasa with Potato Pierogies keilbasa and pierogies moving to the top of the list!!Istanbul, Turkey – Manti with Yogurt Sauce, Baklava
San Juan, Puerto Rico – Mofongo with Shrimp Salsa, Brazo Gitano
Marrakesh, Morocco – Kefta, Spicy Chicken Roll Ate at Merrakesh on last trip..it was very good..but too many other things I want to try this go around!!
Cape Town, South Africa – Durban Spiced Chicken, Bobotie with Mango Chutney Always looking for new ways to eat chicken!!
New Delhi, India – Samosa with Tamarind Sauce, Mango Mousse
Tokyo, Japan – California Sushi Roll, Spicy Tuna Roll again with the seafood...only now it's not cooked even Wellington, New Zealand - Lamb Slider, Kiwi Meringue Tart Melbourne, Australia – Barramundi Fish, Grilled Lamb Chops
The European Cheesemonger – Selection of Dutch, Spanish and Italian Cheese yum more cheese!!

I have also wanted to try out the yorkshire country fish shoppe for a while..mild battered fried fish..is my only way I usually like fish!! Have a little fish and chips!! I'll have to sneak over from HS on Thursday...If I eat even half of what sounds good for F&W I'll be lucky to get around the whole promenade without exploding!!

I wouldn't mind a pastry at boulangerie patisserie.. another place I've always wanted to stop but haven't... maybe for dessert on HS sneakover day???

Flame Tree BBQ... ribs yummy!!! I don't like baked beans...so maybe I'll get some coleslaw to go with them.....mmmmmmmm!!!!!!

Columbia harbor House... oh that menu looks good!!! I'm thinking the BLT Salad....will they leave off the egg???? we're preordering for the KTTK tour. If not I may have to do the chicken nuggets...not exactly high class...but will work!!

Tonys...we've already discussed

Boma bfst... its a bfast buffett... tables and tables of yummy!!!

Ohana!!! we've discussed that too...sounds too too good!!

I may need to spend more time in Epcot...just to eat!!!!


Paula

 

[MEK]

Paula -

I like your idea about buying a balloon for another kid! Nice! You'll only get a little lonely and it won't last long ...... and you know why .....because you will be in the happiest place on earth. I found that I took a lot of pics on my cell phone and sent my kids text messages about where I was and what I was doing/ Yeah - they were in school and couldn't read them until later, but it made me feel like my kids were a part of my trip.

You're going to have a great time and it is fun when you talk to the CM's, because once you tell them you are alone they are extra specially nice!

You will love be able to get all the pics you want and you can just keep taking them over until you have exactly what you want!.

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

Hi, just joining!

Your intinerary looks great. I just love shopping at Disney . It's so much fun!

I'll be reading. I hope you have a great trip!

 

[disneygirlinnj]

I'll put my thinking cap on about the castmember gifts...hmmmm.... you're going in october...so maybe something along that theme... and you're from PA..hmm (i know another trippie i met, they were from VT so they gave out little samples of vermont maple syrup)

ok... now onto your menu.... I am TOTALLLLY a foodie. If you go to my first trippie (the one from December...in my sig) you'll see LOTS of food porn. I didnt get to take as many food photos the 2nd time around. boooo!!

 

[ILuvCrush]

ok... now onto your menu.... I am TOTALLLLY a foodie. If you go to my first trippie (the one from December...in my sig) you'll see LOTS of food porn. I didnt get to take as many food photos the 2nd time around. boooo!!

I just followed your link and read your whole TR...I feel like I'm going blind!!!LOL!!! Awesome job with the TR and I LOVED the pics!!! You could be a pro-photographer!! You all seemed to have a great time too! LOve the Food Porn Pics I need to head to the fridge now

 

[ILuvCrush]

Hi, just joining!

Your intinerary looks great. I just love shopping at Disney . It's so much fun!

I'll be reading. I hope you have a great trip!

 

[disneygirlinnj]

haha, glad you enjoyed! i can't look at those pics without getting hungry either! mmmmmmm!!! foooooddddd!

 

[ILuvCrush]

I had no plan of posting today...but I went to the post office (we don't have home mail delivery in our town....you'd think we were living on the frontier or something!!) and to my total suprise...guess what was there waiting for me????

Wholly smokes!!! My trip is coming up even faster than I thought!!
This is the first time I ever booked a WDW trip myself and NOT thru my TA at AAA... I've never gotten my ME stuff until 2 weeks prior...or even less

OK You may all go back to your happy day... my interuption is over

 

[MMmomto5]

I'm usually a TR lurker, but yours got me to come out of hiding. I'm taking my first solo trip a week after you, so reading your PTR is getting me excited for my own. I keep worrying about missing my kids and getting sad, but dh keeps saying that the biggest Disney fan in the house should get to go and enjoy it selfishly. Plus I figure it'll be the first time I can do some Christmas shopping and browse without hearing "mom, why do you look at things you aren't gonna buy?".

Have you decided about a costume for MNSSHP yet?

 

[ILuvCrush]

Sorry I pretty much abandoned you this week!! It was my week to work. I work 7 days, then I'm off 7 days. The week off is WONDERFUL!! but I do pay for it with my week on... 80hrs.... uuggh! So needless to say, I accomplish nothing on my week on, except work, too little sleep, and running my kids to evening activities (I work overnights so I'm available for the kids after school )

Anyhoo... I just realized that I am under 1 month til my trip!!

So far I have noticed that this PTR has slumped a bit... once the trips booked, ADRs made, itinerary worked out... there's not much to do for a while. It seems that the tide of "nothing to do"..is starting to change now!!

I need to start to get organized for the actual trip itself!!

I Need A List!!! or LISTS!!!!

Here's my list so far....
1. make my MNSSHP shirt (I found some very cool stuff over in DISigns!!)
2. make my LGMH for the parks
3. make my window decor for my room... so i know where I live
4. figure out what bag I'm taking to the parks... its a kerfuffle
5. Decide on what I'm taking to wear... it's time to start packing up the
summer wardrobe here... but obviously, I need light stuff for my trip, soooo
I need to decide whats going with me and whats going in the attic!!
6. purchase necessary toiletries
7. Pick up new Contact Lenses!!! (I can't forget that!!! I never travel w/o
an extra 2 pair...and I'm down to my last ones!! )
8. Get directions to my park and fly hotel... it's not one I've stayed at before
9. Ask my DMIL if I can borrow her camera. I have an awesome Sony SLR
which I love but I want a small one to take too... in case I want to
travel light or of it's raining. I'd be too afraid to take mine out in the rain.
If something happened to DMIL camera... she'd let me replace it and not
get all upset over it Mine, the warranty is up, and they cost too
much to replace due to user stupidity!!!
10. Make arrangements for DDs to get where they need to be while I'm away.
DH still hasn't decided if he's going to take off work that week... so I
can't do much until he makes up his mind
11. Pack my stuff.... I took a couple days off before I leave... so I'll probably
wait until then to do that chore.
12. decide and order the suprise for DF WDW trip
13. Make Mousekeeping envelopes
14. CM thankyou gifts??? still need an idea for that one!!!
15. Decide what dates for next Sept trippie!! I'm booking the BOUNCEBACK!! Since it will be available while I'm there...I just don't know who (if anyone) I'll take along!!!
That's all I have for now...I'm sure I'll think of more.

I have finally broken down and told the kids WHERE I was going... they took it quite well actually!! DD7 said its OK as long as I bring her back a snowglobe OK.. didn't know she likes snowglobes!! I'll have to pack it carefully... since I can't put it in my carry-on bag haha!


I have another list to share.. my shopping list for ME ME ME ME ME at WDW!!!

I rarely buy anything other than a pin or 2 for myself... but this trip I have a few things that I want for myself... I, of course, hold the right to ADD to this list at ANY time!!!

1. Lanyard with the little pouch... it will be nice for EMH and if its a horizontal pouch...I can use it for my name tag at work... then I can keep a little mickey with me at the "Least Magical place on Earth"! haha!
2. MNSSHP pin
3. 2008 pin (I get a pin with the year for every trip... I'll have #2 2008 pins )
4. Annual passholder pin... since I never imagined i'd EVER be an AP holder...but I am!
5. Car magnets... I saw a lady with magnet w/ family wearing mouseears on her van. she said she found it at World of Disney...and I want one too!!
6. A shirt/hoodie.... I haven't bought me a new WDW shirt since 1999... its time!
7. halloween mouse Ears!! I want them for the halloween party I hope I can find them at DTD

OK... thats enough virtual shopping for now. I may go read my new book. I got that Kingdom Keepers book that I heard about here in DIS. I just got the first one. If you haven't heard of it... its about kids who apparently take care of the Magic Kingdom when no ones around!! I thought it would be a good way to pass the time til October!!


Paula

 

[ILuvCrush]

[

QUOTE=MMmomto5;27459831]I'm usually a TR lurker, but yours got me to come out of hiding. I'm taking my first solo trip a week after you, so reading your PTR is getting me excited for my own. I keep worrying about missing my kids and getting sad, but dh keeps saying that the biggest Disney fan in the house should get to go and enjoy it selfishly. Plus I figure it'll be the first time I can do some Christmas shopping and browse without hearing "mom, why do you look at things you aren't gonna buy?".

Welcome!!! I'm sorry I didn't answer you sooner... I've been a bit Lax in my PTR duties!!! That's so cool that you're doing a solo too!! My DDs are worse than I am about shopping, but not buying anything!! DD9 will spend half the day in the everythings a dollar store... b/c she doesn't want to part with her WHOLE $5

Have you decided about a costume for MNSSHP yet?

[/QUOTE]
I think I'm going to make a shirt using a design I found on the DISigns thread. The one's I like are by rumblytumbly. She's really good...they're ALL really good over there!!!

here's what I'm thinking about... but I need to decide which one!!

or maybe.......

what do you think???? which one should I do???


I also like this next one it is hysterical!!!... but since I adore my MIL I wouldn't want to upset her if she saw it!! LOL!!

Rumbly tumbly has a bunch of halloween DISigns if you want to check them out heres her links:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1550766
http://s205.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/rumblytumbly_bucket/


Where in NE PA are you from??? We're more west central... but with DD7 we travel to gymnastics meets out east...but not further north than Bethlem. And you have no ticker!!! whats the dates of your trip?? RU writing a PTR/TR??

Paula

 

[pl'smama]

Great options for your MNSSHP t-shirt! That last one is a riot, but I think your DMIL would understand!

Wow, great that your kids took things so well. My DD would not be happy with me.

Suz

 

[ILuvCrush]

Great options for your MNSSHP t-shirt! That last one is a riot, but I think your DMIL would understand!

I'm sure she would.... but I'd feel SO GUILTY AN MEAN!!!! LOL

Wow, great that your kids took things so well. My DD would not be happy with me.

Suz

I was really suprised... I figured I'd be in for the puppydog eyes and/or tears. But they did really good.... of course i did mention I WANTED to take them, BUT they HAD to go to SCHOOL.......

Paula

 

[lmillercrew]

My BFF's DD read the Kingdom Keepers and she loved it. I vote for the Snow White shirt, besides she's not going to Disney with you. And you don't mean any harm by it, it's friggin hilarious!
Your shopping list looks great. I like seeing other peoples' lists, it gives me ideas for myself.

 

[If U Had Wings]

Enjoying your trip report. I can't wait to hear about your solo trip. I booked a solo trip for next year and can't wait for all kinds of ideas.

 

[MomofCKJ]

I remember all too well that month before where you almost feel like you've done everything and all you can do is wait. And wait. And wait. But you have a good to do list there and that should help you keep busy!

Planning food is always a nice way to pass the time! And F&W, what a great variety of things you can try! That is going to be so much fun!

And you are the 2nd pre trippie today I've read of ME documents arriving! How fun!

Allyson

 

[mistymouse5001]

I guess the title says it all huh???

My dates for upcoming escape from reality trip are October 13 (mon) til October 18th(sat).

Saturday is pretty much a wash b/c I'll be getting ME probably around 8am for 11am flight back north. So I needed to come up with a general Itinerary..in case I want to do some ADRs.

1st order of business...do I really want to do the MNSSHP?? There's 2 dates while I'm there..the 13th and the 16th. HMMMMMM..... Initially the reason that I wanted to go in Oct with the girls was so we COULD do the party...but now they aren't going.... THANKS DAD!!

So do I really want to go by myself to something I KNOW they'd absolutely LOVE to do??? I don't know.
It does sound like fun... we did the P&PP in Feb and it was awesome!!!
My I'll be ALONE!!!! I'm not any fun BY MYSELF!!!! Am I????

Well...I'll put that on the backburner for awhile and noodle it.....

When I made my ressies...I booked All Star Sports...
I know I know....not the MOM IN GLORIOUS PARADISE sorta place huh???
Let me tell you why before you faint!!

I'M CHEAP!!

OK, not scrounging for quarters in the phonebooth cheap. And when it comes to the chitlins...I'm a downright free-for-all spender!
But I KNOW me... there is no way I'm going to WDW and hanging out at the resort..its NOT gonna happen! I hate to swim..so even the pool isn't going to draw me in! Why should I spend extra $$$ for a nicer resort?
I've stayed a ASSports w/ DH on our 2nd honeymoon trip..It was fine. I picked Sports over Music and movies..solely b/c it's the 1st bus stop!!!

Well, my decision to stay at ASSports lasted ummmmm....
1 week! Then I changed it to ASMu. Why you ask? Only cause its the value resort I haven't tried yet...and I thought i'd check it out!! I'm also hoping that since, in general, it's the most boring theme of the 3...it won't be quite as crowded!!! I'd LOVE to try out AKL or Beach Club... but not this time. We're going as a family again next year, so I'll splurge on a nicer room, when we can ALL enjoy it!!

OK Itinerary Time!

The only thing I know for sure is that I'm booked to do the Keys to the kingdom tour on Weds 10/15...at 8:30am
I am really excited about that!! I've always wanted to try a tour...and I debated between KTTK and the Backstage Safari one. I think I'd like them both...but although DH may enjoy the BS tour..I don't think I could get him to do KTTK. So that pretty much sealed the deal. I also have an ADR for Tonys that night. I've wanted to try it, but I've always refrained b/c the kids like character meals...and Tonys just isn't a great deal with the DDP. Since I'm travelling sans the dining plan...I figured it's a good time to try it out.

Has any one been there recently?? I looked at the menu on Allearsnet...I love chix parm...is it any good? Is there anything that I should try since I'll be by myself...suggestions??? What do you think about the MNSSHP? should I? shouldn't I???


Paula

It is amazing. Best money you will spend. I loved it so much

 

[ILuvCrush]

I'm spending WAY too much time on these boards!!!! Is there a support group???

Well I got the call today.... the Grand-gathering for next year is a GO!!! I'm excited, but truely, I've read far more BAD TRs for large groups than good ones!!! So My plan is to plan away... and if someone gets in my way....RUN EM DOWN!!!!

I was excited that I could add another ticker to my siggie too So I tried the magical kingdom ones... and they were SO much niccer than my ticker factory one..I made a new one for my solo trip

you would have to think there MUST be something else i should be doing... and of course there is.... i have a 2 page to-do list (that isn't even trip related) and I've crossed off ....oh like 3 things...thats it...3

Hi my name is Paula... and I'm a DISaholic


OH!!! another thing I just found out on some other thread.... Disney is now apparently charging you a fee if you decorate your resort window!!! I'm glad I found out before I went thru the trouble of making something
I guess the tape makes a mess for the mousekeepers... I can understand that. Especially if people don't take the time to clean up after themselves And it does mess up the uniformity/theming of the resort...at least the big displays that somepeople do. I just planned on a 12" LGMH or something like that. Oh well... I guess it's one thing off my TRIP to-do list anyway!!!

Paula