Sarilas' O-fficial Pre-Trip Report (a.k.a. Vacation, Take TWO!) - Jan. 30-Feb. 8, '09

[Lady Lallie]

Stupid Double Post!! I know I didn't post it twice. LOL

 

[Charleston Princess]

53 Days until Disney! You won't be able to catch your breath between now and then!

 

[Sarilas]

I really love this trivia! So much fun!

Stupid Double Post!! I know I didn't post it twice. LOL

Double your pleasure, double your fun!

53 Days until Disney! You won't be able to catch your breath between now and then!

I already can't! I'm about to lock myself in my room to finish wrapping some gifts and start setting up the Tink gifts for our trip as well... I've picked up enough 'stuff' that everyone will have a little something each morning!

And I'm working on a pic update as well... my Disney box LITERALLY overflowed and I had to start wrapping presents and getting them put away- I had no more room!

 

[trixiequilts]

And I'm working on a pic update as well... my Disney box LITERALLY overflowed and I had to start wrapping presents and getting them put away- I had no more room!

The Disney box overfloweth! Can't wait to see the pics!!!

You're more prepared than I am, and I leave before you. I think you're doing great!

 

[Sarilas]

I didn't think to get any pics of the box ACTUALLY overflowing, unfortunately. When I couldn't snap the lid on anymore it had to start being emptied out though! I'm going to finish wrapping some goodies and getting the last few pics of things I have, and looking over my 'stuff' list... it's ridiculously long!

 

[Charleston Princess]

I love the Tink gifts -- what a great idea! You will tell us what they all are, won't you?

 

[Sarilas]

But of course I will! I haven't started wrapping them yet but maybe I'll just take pics as I go through. I'm just putting one or two little things into a little goody bag, tying it off and forging Tink's signature on a tag for each of them! (You don't think she'll mind, do you?)

 

[Sarilas]

52 Days till Disney!

Splash Mountain’s final plunge is a whopping 52 foot drop (about 5 stories). Woohoo!

So yes, I'm up to my eyeballs in trip planning AND Christmas organizing. Talk about a nutty time of year to plan a trip such as this! But finally I have some updates (and time to type them!).

First of all, this past weekend was our annual gingerbread house decorating time!

It's something my Mom started when I was little, and I do it every year for my own kids. We bake the gingerbread on Saturday, let it sit out overnight to harden and build the house (this year it was houses) on Sunday. I built two this time in case my brother ends up coming to visit- he'll have one to take home with him (if he's got room!).

Tatiana, the royal icing queen:

Adding candy

My roofing tile hidden Mickey!

Tatiana and the girls' finished product:

And mine:

See the candy stained glass windows? We LOVE making our gingerbread houses.

 

[Sarilas]

I got my Disneyshopping.com order a while back, with the engraved Mickey head charms to start off mine and Tatiana's charm collection. I tried to take pics of them but wouldn't you know it's harder than it seemed it would be! Nonetheless, our "T" and "L" charms are awesome:

Lexi's embroidered Mickey blanket is too cool, too. Everything was great in that order!

And now for some purchases from a couple of weekends ago (boy am I slacking on my updates!)

I finally found some mini M&M tubes! They're the extra long ones as well- perfect stocking stuffers which will then become pressed penny money holders! (One for Kyle and Tanya and one for the little girls to share.)

I found these bracelets at Michael's for Tatiana - she's always afraid of losing her favorite Jibbitz while she's walking around (she actually did lose her Cheshire Cat!) and so these little guys will be her Jibbitz charm bracelets!

These are stocking stuffers for the little ones: Mickey and Minnie marshmallow pops!

And the final two pez needed! A Mickey for Kyle and a Sulley for Alexandra.

Check out Mickey's face! Kyle's going to LOVE it.

This Princess magnetic scene is perfect for Anastasia:

And these Tink coloring pages will be great for Tatiana and Stasia:

We found this cute Tink tin at Michael's as well (most of this came from t here this time); Stasia loves having little lunch box containers to put her 'stuff' in, and this one is really small and Tink sized!

And last but not least, some Tink crayons (we bought Princess crayons for Tink gifts, but these will be for a stocking stuffer):

 

[Sarilas]

And here are the things I picked up in between gingerbread houses this weekend:

MORE twisty glow sticks! (I've now found them at both dollar stores)

Check these out: Glow WANDS! I got two yellows and a purple.. and may have to go back for more...

These are the gift bags I'm using for Tink gifts- they look like they fit in with the 'what will you celebrate' theme well!

I got some Mickey head letters to put the girls' names on the back of a couple of shirts (WHY did I give them such long names, WHY?!)

A pirate lollipop and wrist thingy for Kyle- the girls all have princess pops and such- he needs pirate 'stuff'!

Then at our local Disney Store, I didn't see much I 'had' to have- most of it is available online on sale! Go figure. But DH did spy this shirt which he actually ASKED for (he's converting, he's converting!):

And we got some new pals to surprise the kids with:

WHEW! That's a lot of update! Note to self: Update more often!


Hopefully I'll get around to starting the Tink gifts today too; then I can better visualize what I have and what I still need... or DON'T need!

 

[Sarilas]

double posting my own thread!

 

[winkers]

I love your gingerbread houses! And you make the gingerbread!!!
We make them every year, but I cheat and use grahm crackers.

You've got alot of loot! Your kids are going to have so much fun!

 

[trixiequilts]

MORE twisty glow sticks! (I've now found them at both dollar stores)

Check these out: Glow WANDS! I got two yellows and a purple.. and may have to go back for more...

I STILL HAVEN'T FOUND THOSE TWISTY GLOW STICKS!!! I'm officially giving up right now.

But I did get the wands. For some reason, they make me happy!

 

[Lady Lallie]

You have been oh so busy! Your gingerbread houses are too cute!

I have the princess magnet set here at work, decorating my cubicle. It helps to have Disney Magic throughout the work day!

 

[Sarilas]

I love your gingerbread houses! And you make the gingerbread!!!
We make them every year, but I cheat and use grahm crackers.

You've got alot of loot! Your kids are going to have so much fun!

The kids love the tradition of mixing the dough and rolling it out... and eating the left overs!

I STILL HAVEN'T FOUND THOSE TWISTY GLOW STICKS!!! I'm officially giving up right now.

But I did get the wands. For some reason, they make me happy!

If I was still going before you I'd leave you some at Everest! The wands are too cool- I'd never noticed them before!

You have been oh so busy! Your gingerbread houses are too cute!

I have the princess magnet set here at work, decorating my cubicle. It helps to have Disney Magic throughout the work day!

I'm - I mean STASIA - is going to love the magnet too!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Awesome gingerbread houses! I have serious gingerbread house envy now!

 

[Sarilas]

Bag shopping! Oh my gosh I've totally spaced the fact that I NEED a new bag for Disney. I have a humungo purse with a bagillion pockets that I use for everyday here at home, but I need something like a sling bag for the World.

I've heard the praises of Baggallini being praised, and it does look like a handy bag, but I also like the look of another one. So I need your input!

First, the Baggallini

Not in green, because I'll use the bag outside of DIS purposes and green is so not my color! But a cute bag, looks like it'd hold diapers for two toddlers plus everything else I'll need to haul into the parks. This one has a zippered pocket in the strap (which I guess means it'd be across my chest?) where I could hide my key to the world card, etc. I don't know if the zippered area is big enough for my cell phone, but it doesn't look like it would be...

Next is the Addidas

Black and pink, always a favorite combo. Looks to have the same amount of compartments as the Baggallini, albeit shaped differently. This one has the zippered compartment on the lower left (in this picture) side of the bag, at hip height. It's meant to hold an ipod so I know it's big enough for my phone and any other cards, etc.

Oh the decisions! Am I missing another type of bag that'll make me jump and scream with joy?!

 

[Sarilas]

Ugh, I found another contender.

The Baggallini is the smallest bag (around 13" across) and these others are 19 and 21"... I'm trying to decide how much space the Baggallini offers...

 

[GeminiAngel]

I used to do Gingerbread Houses every Christmas!!
Those are so yummy looking!!! Shame on me for not doing one with Nova yet.

As for the bags. I found the perfect little $10 cheap'o at walmart to suit me.
I must have adjustable straps, and built in wallet in the front compartment.

 

[MRYPPNS]

I suggest a Crocs messanger bag. I love mine. In my TR it's the green thing hanging off the back of our stroller in on of the room pictures.