I just love that you have an awesome talent that not only helps pay for the trips, but is directly related to the trips! So cool!
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Awww... Thanks! I love that I am able to do it - and people like what I do.
What about Olaf from Frozen?? I hope Alli starts to think about her eating. Our paper had this book about teenage girls becoming vegetarians in their food section. It looks like a fairly good, non judgmental read. Here is the link to the book if you want to take a look at it. Has Josh said anything else about the trip yet? Have a great day at Target.
http://www.amazon.com/Smart-Girls-Guide-Going-Vegetarian/dp/1402284918
Ok - that looks like an awesome book - I have it open in a tab on my computer so I can look into it further. Thanks so much for the link!
Josh has not said anything about the trip yet... I am trying to let some of the shock wear off.

Once I order all of the fabric for my big auction - then I will start talking about gearing up for a big auction to fund our next trip.
I've probably mentioned it before, but I would love to see you do the little orange bird from adventureland! Maybe with one of the totem poles
You have mentioned it before, but I am glad you mentioned it again.... I'd forgotten. I will add it to my potential list. Thanks Stephanie!
I also think some of the cute food items would make a cute applique, like a mickey waffle or pretzel. I can't imagine how hard that would be though!!!
Looking forward to a new auction!
Oooh - that's interesting too! Great ideas all!
My ideas for a bag:
Original Mickey Ears (hat)
Scrump
anything Frozen Sven Elsa Anna Olaf Hans and Kristoph (sp?)
Genie magic carpet
Nightmare Before Christmas. Zero, Oogie Boogie the hill thing with silhouettes
DUFFY!!!
Winnie the Poo and pals
Muppets
Incredible again go with MB's
Love these ideas! Thanks Mo! I am starting a list after I post this.
Bag ideas - how about doing some themed around resorts or rides? I'm thinking a Polynesian or Animal Kingdom Lodge bag would be awesome. it's a small world, Soarin, Expedition Everest, and Tower of Terror would make awesome bags. When I get on your custom order list next year, I'm thinking I'm going to go with a Frozen bag. I love that movie!
I love the idea of resorts and rides! That would make a great BIG auction theme! Don't be surprised if that one comes to fruitation - lots of great and creative ideas with that!
It's good Alli eats eggs - does she like them a lot of different ways? There is so much you can do with eggs as your protein - she could eat them 3 meals a day and still have a ton of variety. I don't know how eggs compare to meat as a protein source.
She does like eggs, and she does eat them many ways... Even better, she can cook them herself.

Eggs are a bit lower than most meats as a protein source, but they are waaaay better than nothing at all. I've actually heard of them referred to as "natures perfect food"... And I always have a few dozen in the fridge.
Do you track your eating? Maybe you can encourage (or require) her to track what she eats and then compare it to what her nutritional needs are. Maybe if she sees it in black and white she'll come around.
I do track my own eating, but it's more for an informational thing... I like to make sure I am hitting my protein/carb/fat macros as closely as possible. I do monitor my calorie intake, as well - but my main goal is to hit my protein/carb ratio.

I think it would be good for her to track, but I am not sure she would. I will talk to her.
I hope some of the ideas you are getting here are helping. I'm just throwing out anything I think of. The joys of motherhood - sometimes there just are no good answers or "right" ways to parent!
Thank you! They really are helping, lots of great ideas here!
Since I mentioned it yesterday, I'll follow up today. No workout yesterday - I'm going to have to do a better job of protecting the 4pm time to get my workouts in - it can be hard to get away from work at that time, but if I don't take a lunch, that needs to be my time. I won't be working out today either - training from 3-5 and I think I'm going to run to meet my husband and little one at the doctor later this morning. One week into antibiotics for her double ear infection and she spiked a fever and is just acting miserable but she's not complaining about anything specific. We'll see what the doctor has to say.
Well... This is what I do, it may or may not help you... but I ALWAYS work out first thing in the morning. I used to do it immediately, but I like my quiet time before everyone wakes, so now I usually do it after everyone leaves. But I find if I work out right away in the morning, I don't dread it all day and I get it out of the way. Not sure if you could make a morning work out time work better with your schedule?
D, I love this idea. Something themed on a resort or one of the main attractions.
Lasagna for a week? Oh dear...I don't think my tummy would like that.
Has Josh said any more about the trip?
I love that idea too! It would be so fun! Definately on my list!
Oooh - we LOVE lasagna! Thankfully all of us can tolerate it pretty well.
JOsh has not said any more about the trip... I am trying to let some of the shock wear off.

I plan to order the fabric for my big auction this week, and then I will start talking more and more about it. Praying for a blessing here.
Bag themes - Villians - always my first choice! Anything Frozen, since you haven't done any of those yet. I like the theme park idea too. Have you done a Daisy bag yet?
I have thought of doing a Villian bag theme - I love the idea... I need to do it for a late summer release though. I think it would make a great BIG auction theme.
I did do one Daisy bag, a couple of years ago... It was an auction bag.
The recipe for "pink stuff" does contain jello, and I'm not sure you want to use it, but it is mainly for flavoring, so you could probably make it with out the jello.
1 small can crushed pineapple, drained - or you could use fresh and cut it up into small pieces
1 medium size container of small curd cottage cheese
Mix the pineapple and cottage cheese together
1 small box of strawberry jello (or you can use orange jello)
Mix the jello into the cottage cheese/pineapple mixture
2 cups of whipped cream -
Mix the whipped cream into the cottage cheese mixture
1 cup strawberries cut up- fresh or frozen, it doesn't matter (if you use orange jello, use 1 can of mandarin oranges - or you can use fresh oranges, cut up)
Blend the fruit into the cottage cheese/whipped cream mixture.
My kids still ask for "pink stuff" or "orange stuff". I've been making this for about 30 years now - I don't know where the original recipe came from.
Also, since A eats eggs - I usually cut up a hard-boiled egg into my salad for added protein and also add some almonds or pecans to it.
Thanks for the recipe... Not sure about the jello - but I might be able to come up with some sort of alternative... It sounds delicious.
Great idea about the eggs... I usually hard boil a few out of each dozen and keep them peeled in the fridge (in a baggie with a bit of extra light olive oil and salt... they are a great snack...) I will try to encourage her to eat those too.
An Olaf bag, that would be awesome... Although I'm partial to snowmen so that might be why Im thinking that. Have you ever done a Cheshire bag? Or maybe feature some of the little known characters. Or villains!
A frozen bag would be fun to do... I think I would have to keep it for next year though, because I am not sure how well it would do in the summer? I have yet to see that movie - so sad about that.
I have done a Cheshire bag - very recently - I think it was right before Christmas? Great ideas though!
Hi D~! I'm finally getting some time today to get caught up on everyone's TRs & PTRs. My trip was wonderful although a little interesting at times. I think the TR is going to be fun once I finally get around to starting it! Unfortunately I'm entering a very busy time at work but I hope to get it started and also update on my other one pretty soon.
Welcome home Ariana! I am anxious to hear about the trip. Please PM me (here or FB) to let me know when you start your TR!
So you asked way back about the sharpie on my MB. I just used it to color in the Mickey head as it's the same color as the MB. I got a lot of complements on the band but I will say that the nail polish started to crack a bit where the band bended. I'm going to have to touch it up since it is now my AP!
This is good to know! So excited that you got an AP!!! I am dying for one!
I can't help you at all with idea's for Alli's diet. I eat horribly myself and I keep saying I need to change that. But I'm so picky it's hard for me to find healthy food that I like!
Maybe the followers here have some ideas for you? They've had some great ideas for Alli so far!
I loved all three of the new bags of course but the Dumbo one was my favorite! That one was perfect for Kathy and the Brave one was perfect for Mo.
I would have to agree with you - I just loved that Dumbo bag, it was fantastic. And I love that Mo's was perfect for her personality!
I was actually going to ask what happened to the monthy auctions so I'm glad you posted about that. Got to feed my addiction somehow.
I know... I took Dec off while my Dad was in the hospital, and January off because we were still moving him... and well, Feb - I was just being lazy...

So, I must resume them now if there will be any hope of going on a trip this year.
Now as for ideas, I love the suggestions of a Frozen themed one and also the ideas of ride themed bags. Of course I would probably want a Tiki Bird one or Big Al from Country bears and I'm not too sure how well they would sell.
Those are great ideas too! THanks for the ideas!
Personally I would also love to see a Lion King one. I don't think you've done too many with that theme. The bag I see in my mind is dark brown with orange trim. On the front is Simba in the "I just can't wait to be King" scene where he has leaves as a mane. The wallet would have one of the technocolor animals on it from the same scene or maybe Zazu. Not very specific am I?
Oooh - I love this idea!!! I can see that bag totally! Don't be surprised if this one shows up one day soon.

It's perfect!
I'm a big fan of the movies from the late 80s, early 90s so anything from Little Mermaid or Aladdin would be awesome too.
Me too! OK - that settles it... You all have given me some great ideas! I plan to start a list this morning!
Reading everyone else's bag ideas made me think of more - a series of bags based on the sidekicks - Flounder, Pascal, Rajah, Zazu, etc. I always liked those characters more than the princesses when I was growing up.
Also, a Maleficient bag timed around the realease of the movie might be a good idea.
It's fun to come up with ideas that I don't have to figure out how to execute
Excellent ideas!!! Adding to my list.
Catching up while eating lunch is a good idea here. Everyone's vegetarian options would make me hungry if I didn't have a huge salad, chicken kabobs and fruit to hold me.
LOL... I know. Hehehe...
Wow - is Alli really that tall or was she wearing high shoes? I should talk - by the time I was 13 I was taller than my 5'3" mom.
LOL... Yes, it pains me that she is so tall... Actually - I am pretty sure she was barefoot for that photo and I was wearing shoes.

I guess, she is probably average, maybe a bit more... It is I who is the short one at 5'3.5"
Am looking forward to the ADRs and the Auctions.
Me too!
As for ideas...you could do a park set (if you haven't already) Castle on the bag, Tree of life zipper pull, Spaceship Earth wallet, Sorcerer's hat lanyard for example. Or a bag for each.
I do like the idea of a bag for each park - that would be super fun!
Speaking of bags, I found the first purse I built. I cobbled it together with things I had laying around at the time: old t-shirts, some thrift story polyester lining material, a couple of old key rings and no support what-so-ever. But it's still holding up, so at least I sewed it proper.
This is awesome! I think we need to see pictures of it.
Hope everyone is feeling better and all is well with weather!
Me too!
So excited to see your mini planner when it is ready. It always gets me psyched for your trip.
I know! I am starting to get very excited!
Your weight-loss progress is very encouraging. That was a sweet photo / note from Alli. I totally understand your concern, especially if you are seeing a change in her energy level. If the desire to be vegetarian comes from a motivation for weight loss she should have no trouble looking to you for inspiration in that area. If it is for moral reasons then I respect her choice I guess there isn't going to be a way for you to get her to go back to eating meat. I see you got lots of great advice from MatoMany so I hope that helps. I am wondering what protein balls are? I am trying to picture how you make wheatless lasagna - my limited cooking skills are showing...
I know... It's just so hard. It would be nice if she could just eat some meat occasionally. I respect her moral decision, but I just hate to see her wreck her body for her entire life... I have read so many (thousands) of accounts where people were once vegetarians, and when they wanted to/needed to, they couldn't go back to eating meat, because their bodies rejected it. And it makes me sick/sad to think that she is doing this to her own body. There may be a time in her life where she will NEED to eat meat, and I am afraid that she won't be able to.
I will have to google the protein balls... I was going to do that the other day, and I forgot.
So many great ideas for bags. I like the ideas for the different parks. What about Beast's castle or just Beast? Of course the Dwarfs and the Mine Train might be a popular in the next few months too. I hope you get inspired.
Well, I did to the drarf's mine train UPB a few months back... So I am not sure I will ever do another one... but I do love all of the other ideas and I am adding them to my list.
Your Valentine's day story was pretty funny. Dan and I did that once when we first started dating, we must have drove around for over an hour and ended up at a restaurant that they had right where we started off (I didn't even know there was more then one). LOL
Hahaha... So releived to hear that I wasn't the only one.
I really like this idea. It will be useful if she is trying to loose weight (don't want to offend but you mentioned in an earlier post that you thought being a vegetarian might be a "diet" for her). Having a log would also be helpful if she does end up seeing a nutritionist / doctor. It could be a great starting point for a nutritionist to see what she enjoys eating and what changes she might be able to make to improve her protein intake. Not that this is an easy thing to do over a long period of time but it would be worth a try.
I plan to talk to her about this, it would be good to have this info when we see the Dr. I think it's a great idea... But she is a teen, afterall - so I am not sure how dedicated she will be to it? But I think it's worth a try, for sure.
Anyway, I do not envy you. Especially the part about making 3 dinners, most days I can barely get one meal to the table
Tell me about it. To be honest... for the most part, I make a main meal... Then I make another meal with out meat for Alli (and I try very hard to make it similar to the main meal) - then usually, mine is either the main meat and veggie, minus the potato - or if I can't do that... I just whip up a couple of eggs with a sweet potato (my favorite go to meal...). I try to make it easy on myself, but it's really not that easy at all.
On the Disney front - did you see the new refillable mugs they have? Did any of you recent visitors get one of the new mugs???
I did see them the other day! I was very excited to see an ANGRY Donald on it!!!
And Nini's recent report about the testing of the Mine Train has me very excited and we don't even have a trip in the works.
I Know- I am beyond excited for this to open!!! I cannot wait!
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Yesterday was a decent day at Target... It wasn't horrible.
I did make an appointment for Alli for a physical... She goes in bright and early on Monday morning... I made the appt for as early as I could, so she could be fasting and we could do a blood draw.

I am a bit nervous to see these results. I am going to try to advocate seeing a nutritionist, I think it would be good for her, and hopefully it will help her too.
Today, I will be finishing up this week's custom order... I was able to make a huge dent in it on Tuesday, so I only have a few hours left on it today. Sorry that I can't post pictures until the customer receives it though.
We are also in a blizzard warning/winter storm warning... "Technically" we are in a winter storm warning, but the county that is in the blizzard is only 7 miles away... So, I am thinking it will be awful here too... On that note, Alli left me a note on the computer this morning... It's kind of a joke in our house, that if the girls need anything done right away in the morning - they leave me a note on the computer... They used to just tape one to the screen, but as they get older and more computer efficient - they now just write out word documents... This is the note I woke to this morning:
It just cracked me up...
I am a bit nervous about the weather, and all of the schools around us are closed - but us - as usual. It makes me so nervous and I still may keep them home.
I hope you all have a wonderful day today... Prayers going out to all of you who need them, and I hope all of you are feeling better.
D~