Pease Please PLEASE! No More National Lampoon Vacations! My First PTR!

[shadowryter]

I'm caught up on your next trip's plans! Sounds great. I've been absorbing all the Dream information because DH said we should do a cruise sometime in the near future. Usually he needs a gentle push to agree to a vacation, so I took this as a good sign! Can't wait to see/hear what you think of it and see your great photos - bring an extra memory card, I have a feeling you'll find lots to shoot!

Are you going to wear your pirate outfits to MNSSHP or are you making fabulous t-shirt designs for the party? I hope you show off all your designs in your report!

Can I ask one non-trip related question: How do you wash the t-shirts with your DISigns on them? I've tried many of the tricks from the DISign board and the designs still seem to run fairly often - even after being washed several times. Any suggestions?

I always have to give my DH a gentle nudge....more like a shoveBut to tell you the truth all I heard was kiddie cruise...kiddie cruise months before and right up to the day of our trip. He loved it and couldn't wait to book our next. Already planning next year on the Fantasy. As far as Pirate night goes we're dressing like pirates, but I am making new things as you will read in my next update. I have heard that some shirts run after they are made. I think it depends on the transfers. I use only dark transfers by amymickey and I love them.Have you tried the vinegar wash? I know that and salt will set colors so they will not bleed.

I love your photos! Cedar Point looks amazing. The photo of you guys from December 2010 brings it all back- we were there & freezing, too!!!

Hi there, neighbor! You wouldn't believe how many people I have run into that shared the cold that dismal week or two.

 

[shadowryter]

So this is the month that I get to go online and hopefully at precisely midnight July 25th E.S.T which is my time zone, I will try for the illusive Palo Brunch and any excursions that we decide on. Yep…still haven’t decided on that one. I know for sure that I want the brunch but having failed at it last time, I prepared to bet let down this time. We definitely want to ride the bikes at Castaway Cay. We had so much fun once I figured out how to ride again and yes folks you do forget. How can you not? I’m hoping to do better this time and not plow over Dan and bend my chain guard in the process. This time we plan on going to Serenity Bay instead of biking past it. The family beach was fun though and Cookies Too has great food but I want to go where all the grown-ups go. I want to go to Serenity Bay! A friend of mine told me to get the Konk Kooler in the souvenir CC glass. Sounds good to me.
Regular Konk Kooler…so good

The view at the end of bike trail and near Serenity Bay

Cookies Too

Then of course there is Nassau. We did the Atlantis Aquarium tour last time and this time…not so sure. Maybe go to the Straw Market after breakfast on the Dream and just poke around. I really wanted to get some of those Tortuga rum cakes the last time but was pleasantly pleased when I found you can get them on Amazon.com. They have the Caribbean ones and also the Florida ones. Have to have the Caribbean ones and it might be easier to order since I’m not so sure about getting those home on a plane???
The Atlantis Resort

Tortuga Rum cakes from Amazon

As you can probably tell by now we are not exactly what you call beachy people. I’m a red head with pale skin. I turn to dust when exposed to the sun. Heather has her dad’s complexion but as with me she is highly allergic wherever she is hit by the sun.

We swim in the evening, when it’s nice and dark and hopefully not cold. Dan is fine either way. I have to yell at him to wear sunscreen. Heather and I have to bathe in it. Which by the way we are also allergic to and can only use the kind with Titanium Dioxide in it. Helioplex is a major no-no. My solution to strong sun??? I use an umbrella…yes to keep the sun away. Think parasol…hey…it works.

 

[CherylSue]

As you can probably tell by now we are not exactly what you call beachy people. I’m a red head with pale skin. I turn to dust when exposed to the sun. Heather has her dad’s complexion but as with me she is highly allergic wherever she is hit by the sun.

We swim in the evening, when it’s nice and dark and hopefully not cold. Dan is fine either way. I have to yell at him to wear sunscreen. Heather and I have to bathe in it. Which by the way we are also allergic to and can only use the kind with Titanium Dioxide in it. Helioplex is a major no-no. My solution to strong sun??? I use an umbrella…yes to keep the sun away. Think parasol…hey…it works.

I feel your pain My husband and daughter tan like they are Tropicana models! I, on the other hand, am a relative of Casper the Friendly Ghost. If sun touches me and I have not soaked myself in SPF 5 million I break out in blisters and new freckles! I even have freckles on my LIPS! Really??? Who gets THOSE?!?! LOL!

 

[shadowryter]

I feel your pain My husband and daughter tan like they are Tropicana models! I, on the other hand, am a relative of Casper the Friendly Ghost. If sun touches me and I have not soaked myself in SPF 5 million I break out in blisters and new freckles! I even have freckles on my LIPS! Really??? Who gets THOSE?!?! LOL!

This is the main reason why I try to stick to the winter months for vacation. March, April and May...too hot. August we got soaked...good news...not much sun that summer. December is usually good. I don't mind wearing my jeans to the parks but last year was just too cold as you know. Hoping that October will be better. I hear it is a great time to go. I'm trying real hard to convince DH to try late November/early December for next year and the Western Caribbean. He's almost sold. If not I can always turn to my trusty umbrella.

 

[shadowryter]

So what’s happening lately? Well you know that I am a designer here on the disboards, so I’ve been busy not only keeping up with my threads but designing some new things for our upcoming Disney stay and cruise. Both of these have been recently compromised to my re-injuring my right shoulder which means simply that it can be shear agony to wield a mouse. But I push through to get things done, taking a break to rest. Hopefully this will not last forever.

I have a totally new design for MNSSHP, which features our favorite characters. Dan is the Headless Horseman, Heather is Donald and I’m Tink. I’ll post pic’s later of course but for now all I will say is that they are done in traditional Halloween colors…Black/orange/purple and we have decided to use purple shirts. Then for the Dream the characters are the same for me and Heather but Dan will be Grumpy, his favorite character but they are all pirated up and the design is centered on an old looking tattered pirate map against black shirts. I got my dark transfers from AmyMickey. I would not use anyone else’s as these are by far the best. I’ll be challenged with the rough edges on this one but it should look great. We’ll wear these shirts when we embark on the Dream and have our photo taken. Last December was my first time at trying my hand in making shirts. They came out pretty good, though the Pirate Night one is probably familiar to most on my design thread.
Last years shirts
MVMCP

Pirate Night

You can see Dan’s and Heather’s here

And Heather’s and mines here

I really wish that I had taken some good pic’s of us wearing these, but it was just too darn cold.
I have all the things that I need for our FE gifts. All I have to do is wait for the final count and at this point it looks like we might be splitting up the list. If we do I will have more than enough for everyone and will post a little preview as they are created. Some of my planned goodies? Cabin door magnets, bottle cap pendants for the ladies and key rings for the guys, book marks and various items for the younger ones and toddlers, all packaged in a cool looking loot bag with a personalized sticker. I’m thinking about a cook book with recipes from my state and DCL, one per cabin but I have to make one first. I’ve already made the template and set my choice of recipes. Now all I have to do is print one and if I like it, it’s a go. On our first cruise I made Christmas goodie bags and stuffed them with these:
Pirate and Tink bookmarks

Cruise magnets

Post cards

Christmas ornament

Cruise CD

There were also, silly bands, Disney stickers, Ring pops, glow sticks, Bubble books for the little ones and more all in a Christmas goodie bag. Did I go overboard on this? No pun intended. All I can say is that we had a blast delivering and receiving our cruise gifts and I’m looking forward to doing it again.
Christmas goodie bags

Last years haul…so many nice gifts…home made and not.

Finally, a little update. Tomorrow night, Sunday the 24th, I will be waiting up until midnight to try and get the coveted Palo Brunch ressie. Wish me luck!

 

[Swissmiss]

Hi Linda,

So fun to read along here! And...did you get brunch?

Heidi

 

[basketkat]

Followed you over from your DISign thread...looking forward to reading about all of your plans!

 

[Denzbrujah]

Well Hello There
Fellow DISigner Along for the ride.

 

[Denzbrujah]

My DW & I did Atlantis for our Official Honeymoon (actually our second honeymoon but she was pregnant last time so she could not enjoy it as much) We loved it but it's super expensive.

As for the Straw Market tolerance and patience are needed. (Neither of which I have)
Many of the vendors are brash, pushy and get a little to personal (ie. If I can smell what you had for breakfast or what you're drinking you're TOOOO close)

That said there are some pretty talented folks in there though

 

[KYCruiseCrazy]

Great PTR so far. We were there last year in early Dec. It was warm on day 1 and day 9 and 10. Our dates were Dec 10-21. It was cold!!!!!

Keep up the PTR. Thanks for sharing.


Holiday road is a great song to start your vacation to!!

 

[shadowryter]

Hi Linda,

So fun to read along here! And...did you get brunch?

Heidi

Hi Heidi, thanks for reading....as far as brunch goes...

 

[shadowryter]

Followed you over from your DISign thread...looking forward to reading about all of your plans!

Hey, thanks for joining in. More to come.

 

[shadowryter]

Well Hello There
Fellow DISigner Along for the ride.

Well hello there to you fellow DISigner. I know your work...Great stuff! Thanks for reading.

 

[shadowryter]

My DW & I did Atlantis for our Official Honeymoon (actually our second honeymoon but she was pregnant last time so she could not enjoy it as much) We loved it but it's super expensive.

As for the Straw Market tolerance and patience are needed. (Neither of which I have)
Many of the vendors are brash, pushy and get a little to personal (ie. If I can smell what you had for breakfast or what you're drinking you're TOOOO close)

That said there are some pretty talented folks in there though

Last year we did the casino tour and the Atlantis Aquarium. We really enjoyed it but not being beachy people we're not quite sure what is in store for this trip. I'm kind of thinking of an early breakfast on the Dream and then try the Straw Market. I've heard it can be quite daunting but sounds like fun also. DH is 6'3", 230 lbs. and very protective so he may not like his girls getting solicited too much.Hopefully he will keep his cool and we'll find some great buys.

 

[shadowryter]

Great PTR so far. We were there last year in early Dec. It was warm on day 1 and day 9 and 10. Our dates were Dec 10-21. It was cold!!!!!

Keep up the PTR. Thanks for sharing.


Holiday road is a great song to start your vacation to!!

Thanks...Looks like we share the same pain.Along with many others I imagine. We were in the area from the 1st to the 17th...The 4th was great...5th...cold...6th nice....7th thru 17th frigid. I'll never forget it. How do you freeze on a cruise anyway???Oh well.

 

[shadowryter]

Hi everyone. So...Palo Brunch...I’m afraid I’m just not one for getting those Palo brunch ressie’s. I did try but with an even larger ship my lowly silver status just doesn’t cut it and I’m find with that. I look at it this way, I will have more time to explore the Dream and take some great shots for my TR. There’s always next time and there will be a next time because my dear husband has become addicted to cruising. He’s already planning on booking the Fantasy for a Western Caribbean cruise during our October sailing. Now I will have to get into evening gown and tux mode. So much fun coming up, huh?

That being said, no Palo brunch does not break my heart. I should be able to get at least one reservation during 3 days at sea. Dan says I’m obsessed. Lol! I say I’m just curious and would like to experience it just once maybe even try Palo for dinner and I understand there is High Tea??? But that will be another story…TR that is.

As I stated previously I have been nursing an injured shoulder. I saw my doctor and she wants me to start physical therapy so I made the call and will get my evaluation and start therapy tomorrow. I don’t want anything interfering with our vacation and I’m pretty limited in what I can do at the moment. Brushing my hair has even turned into a painful task so I might just decide to sport a shorter hair style. Heather had 10 inches cut off from hers and I may just follow that path. Typing seems to be okay for now but the mouse gives me problems so my PTR as well as my design threads are moving s-l-o-w-l-y.

So I mentioned that I have perfect designs for MNSSHP and then our cruise embarkation. Well Dan and Heather have just informed me that they want Star Wars shirts for our Studios day and Heather wants a Drinking Around the World/Celebrating 21 shirt for our Epcot/Food and Wine Festival day. Looks like I have my work cut out for me and now I need to get some more shirts. So glad I just bought some more ink cartridges…I’m going to need them. LOL! So as usual…when I work on a new design I make what I like to call virtual t-shirts. I also do this to design my cabin door for our cruise. I did mention that I’m a planner right? So here are a few images of what I am planning to make. I’ll post the real thing as soon as I make them.
Virtual shirts~MNSSHP
Me

Dan

Heather

Dream embarkation
Me

Dan

Heather

In the mean time I found the perfect dress for Heather for our dress up night on the Dream. The problem is, it is from Newport News and I had no idea that they filed for bankruptcy protection in June. I love shopping here and it will be sad to see them go. So now we wait. Will she have her perfect dress or not? I ordered it on the 25th of July and they claim it will be shipped on August 15th. Time will tell, I guess. Here’s hoping.
The perfect dress

 

[TinkerbelleAbbysMom]

I came over to see when you would be at Disney and sadly see you all leave for your cruise on our arrival day! Just wanted to say, take care of yourself! Don't feel rushed to get those DISigns done! If you mess your shoulder up further it would be horrible! Take care!! Excited to read more though!

 

[aprilisis]

I LOVE that dress!!! I had no idea Newport News was going bankrupt! I love their clothes.
The shirts you are going to make look awesome! How do you make them? Are they iron-on transfers?

 

[shadowryter]

I came over to see when you would be at Disney and sadly see you all leave for your cruise on our arrival day! Just wanted to say, take care of yourself! Don't feel rushed to get those DISigns done! If you mess your shoulder up further it would be horrible! Take care!! Excited to read more though!

I know...we just miss each other.

 

[shadowryter]

I LOVE that dress!!! I had no idea Newport News was going bankrupt! I love their clothes.
The shirts you are going to make look awesome! How do you make them? Are they iron-on transfers?

I really love Newport...but they are still selling things. Just beware as you will have a devil of time returning something...it's a long process. I'm using dark transfers by amymickey. She has the best and I'm always so plesed with my shirts using her transfers. Plus you do not have to mirror image print...which I hate.