~~~SEWING my way to POFQ ~ American Girl outfits & Custom Park Bags! ~~~

[NiniMorris]

As an adoptive mom with bio parent issues... the only thing I do NOT like with a photo pass share is when everyone else in the share gets to see your kids. (yes, I am over protective!)

I was able to do one where the person heading it was very understanding. I was the last person to add their photos and edit and then let him know to submit. He made sure that none of my pictures were included in any one elses cd. (He was also an adoptive parent)

The last one I was in...not so much! We got 5 cds with everyone's pictures in it. I think it took me longer to delete the pictures that weren't mine than it would have for the leader to pull everyone's out...my computer wouldn't co operate! LOL!

With all that said...I probably won't be doing another share this time. Partly because I don't know exactly when we are going, and partly because we can never find enough photographers to make it worth my while! Since I have paid for it the past three joint trips, I'm hoping my daughter in law picks up the whole tab this year!

Nini

 

[mphalens]

Yeah - the share I did was with two friends from here . . . The Bestie and another good friend of ours (they were there the same week and we were there two weeks before they were). I did the ordering because I was going to be in the parks first . . . I didn't view mine until part way into our trip because I wanted to give us the most amount of time for editing that I could . . .
We had all finished editing a couple of days before Christmas and paid for the express shipping (WELL WORTH IT since the cds showed up the day after Christmas and I think I submitted it the 24th!!!) -express shipping was a whole $2 more than regular shipping.

I made the cds and I asked them if they just wanted their own pics or all of the pics. They each only wanted their own, so that's what I made them I don't think I'd want to do a share with people I didn't know. . . A share with a bunch of y'all, who I know, sure. A share with a bunch of random Disers that I don't know, no thanks

 

[mommy2mrb]

I finished up our DLR xmas trip....its in my OCT wdw TR if anyone wants to see it!

 

[momminnie]

I just received my Mickey bag and it is better than the pictures. I love love love it! Thank you so much.

 

[VBAndrea]

I know you all have been anxiously waiting for me to finish this bag.

I want to start off by saying, there are no balloons on this bag. I know what you are thinking... What! NO Balloons??? But it's true. When I first went fabric hunting for this bag, I was looking specifically for balloon fabric - I looked online, I looked in stores, I looked on Ebay, I looked everywhere. I did find a few balloon prints, but really nothing that spoke to me. That's when I decided that maybe balloon fabric wasn't the way to go for this bag. I figured I would work them into my applique.

The fabric I ended up using, I found in this teeny tiny fabric shop about 20 miles from here... Getting tired of searching and finding the same fabrics in store after store, this fabric shop was a last ditich effort. I must say, this fabric didn't jump out at me - it was kind of "meh" - but it was better than anything I had seen so far, so I payed the inflated boutique shop price for just barely enough to make the bag. It wasn't until I got home and found the fabric for the pockets that it really pulled all the elements of the bag together and I got excited about what I was going to do.

As for the applique.... which turned into a 17 hour applique (start to finish)... I know Allison really wanted Dug on her bag... I tried so hard, but in the end - I just couldn't wrap my mind around his fur, and how Dug just wouldn't fit into the theming of the rest of the bag. It wasn't until Saturday morning, when I asked Allison to help me choose an applique, I explained my dillema, and in the end - we went with Russell. Not just any Russell, but the most difficult Russell you could think of. It was so difficult, that just the prospect of adding balloons just made me ill... It took me almost 2 hours just to draw out each piece of the applique, and almost 3 hours to piece it together... But in the end - I am super happy with the result, and I just love the bag!

Front:

Applique close-up:

And it was Allison's idea to use buttons as Russell's badges - that was my biggest hang up with doing Russell in the first place, was how in the world was I going to applique all those badges? The buttons turned out to be the perfect solution - which took me long enough as it was. I love how the buttons and the beads give the whole applique a 3D effect.

My only disappointment with this entire bag, is that I didn't realize the Patience's needle was slightly bent when I was doing the zipper top stitiching - it wasn't until I was completely done installing the zipper that I noticed my sitching looks like a drunk sailor did it. Oh well, normally I would rip it all out and redo it, but I just couldn't make myself do that, so it will have to look wacky.

D~

Beautiful!!!! I'm stumped on this being your longest applique to date -- you must be including the time it took to sew the buttons on. Other appliques you have done have seemed to me like they had tinier details. I love the buttons and I adore the little strings of buttons too! I also love the combinations of fabrics.

OK... I think that once a week, I go through my trip financials to see where I am sitting, and what else I need to do.

The trip is paid in full - big hurdle is taken care of.

We still have to add 8 more days of park tickets (or 7 - still haven't decided)... I have about half of it saved, and I am expecting a check next month that will finish it off (provided the entitiy remembers).

Photopass - to share or not - that is still the question. I really need to make a decision on this - and SOON. I have enough funds in Paypal to cover the cost of the $100 preorder. OK, I just talked to Josh, he is on the same line of thinking as I am - and the share I am participating in is just too large and he is not comfortable with it (neither am I) - that, combined with the fact that we don't have the fastest internet, it may make it impossible to sift through everyone else's photos just to edit my own. As much as I don't want to (I'd really like the cost savings), I am going to back out of the share.

I need to purchase another $171 (my discounted price) for $200 worth of GCs, to cover any extra meals at WDW. I have one bag pre-sold for next month, which will cover a good portion of this.

And I also need to have $250 cash (I bumped that up from $200) for Airport food, tips and our DTD meal we are planning OOP. Previously, after my figures, I had $60 remaining for incidentals, that number just felt too low to me, so I added another $50.

Then, of course, there's the endless souvenier battle. I still don't have a number for this. Victoria has managed to save enough babysitting $$ to buy a $50 Disney GC - so she will have some souveniers.

OK - I am done rambling for this week.

D~

I think you were smart to opt out of a large PP share. I never even looked at my photopass pics. We had so few taken since dh refused to do them (even though he agreed to before we left for the trip). The only pics would have been dd with characters and I took my own as well, so likely would have been redundant.

Minnesotans must not pay very well for baby sitting. Every time we have a sitter it costs me about that -- hence we hardly ever go out. I'm ready to ditch the kids tonight though because dd was screaming and carrying on in the car on the way home from school b/c her DS wasn't working right -- the horse wouldn't run fast enough so it was clearly a broken DS and not an incompetent child. And then ds had a fit once he got home b/c I make him put adjectives in all his spelling sentences and he wanted to do a sentence without one and I wouldn't let him so that caused utter chaos and him arguing with me -- I don't argue back though, but it still makes me peeved. Something must have been in the air today at school for both kids to act obnoxious.

I really wanted to come home and do my BG shirt b/c I'm so frustrated with the kids that I think I'll make mistakes on it

 

[Corrine 1973]

Looks like your trip is coming together. It's getting soooo close. Did you notice that Touring plans changed their all over crowd level from 10 to 9 on March 10th.

Yea I don't think I would do more than a couple of people when doing a photo share. I have done a share both times I have gone to WDW. The first was a gift from someone for our Wish Trip and she included two other families. And the other one I was incharge of, but I did it with a friend and her sister. I don't think I could ever do a large group, to easy for pictures to get mixed up and end up where you don't want them.

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

I know you all have been anxiously waiting for me to finish this bag.

Front:

D~

AMAZING (as always)

My dd wants me to ask you how long it took to make the whole bag...(I love when my kids express any interest in my Dis friends...)

We have never purchased a photopass CD. I did buy one picture from our first trip when we arrived home. I always give my camera to the photopass guy/gal or the handler for the character and have them take a shot. I find that they are as good as the photo pass pics... and cheaper!

Deb

 

[DMGeurts]

You're welcome?

Hate to say it Liddy - but you aren't the only Stephanie that's here... That's why I call you Liddy.

[Yes, but I meant the idea was PERFECT! It just really added that... UMPH and pizzazz (insert jazz fingers)!

Oooh - I love jazz fingers!

[But ... it's almost 8am here. Us moms should have been up and going hours ago! Who gave you the day off?

You didn't get the memo?

looks like you have all your $$ figured out...seems like a good amount for the extra's!
I don't think I'd want to share photopass with a big group either unless I knew everyone in it.
yay that Victoria has some of her own $$ to spend....it will all work out and you will make the most out of what you do end up bringing!

hope work goes quick and you can get some of your projects going tonight!
we have another snow day, staying in warm and cozy!

Thanks for reassuring me about the PP share, it's something I've really struggled with... Wanna save the $$, not sure I will have the time to sift through everyone's pics/don't want others having my pics.

Work dragged - it always does. Glad to be home... Time to go make tater-tot hotdish for dinner (my girls will not be happy with me).

Love the Up bag. It is just so adorable!

Figuring out the finances is not nearly as fun, lol. I just did my first real financial look the other day and I am rethinking a whole lot because of it. Would never have been a big deal if it hadnt been for this tumor- I am thinking it deserves a disney villian name since it keeps mucking up all my plans!

Thanks! I know that it's just so expensive to go to Disney - it's not that we can't afford to go, it's just that we prefer not to dip into our household budget to finance it - so we have to be creative in earning the cash - and we rarely use our credit cards - especially for vacations. I am sorry that this tumor threw a big wrench into your trip budget, I really hope you are able to tweek your numbers so that you are able to go and enjoy yourselves - after all - you truly deserve a vacation.

WOW you are so organized. Love it.

I may be able to help your cause if I could decide what I want on a bag

I don't think I am that organized. Anal is a bit more like it - LOL It all stems from our very first trip to WDW and not knowing how much everything cost, we literally ran out of $$ on our very last day - I vowed that would never happen to us again.

Take your time Chiara... I can always make you one when I get home - I told you I'd squeeze you in any time.

How can we order???? I am in love with the clothes and bags! Trip is in August would love to order

Welcome! And thank you. I would love to hear more about your trip (where are you staying???)... Are you going to do a PTR?

I love the UP bag! Using buttons for the badges was ingenious on Allison's part.

Thank you... I've been telling Allison all you comments about the buttons on the bag, she is a bit over pleased with herself.

You amaze me with design and sewing abilities with every new bag you create.

Thank you... That is just so nice of you to say. I always look at my stuff and see the flaws, or see what I need to do better, so it's just nice to hear that everyone likes what I make.

I don't think I would do a PP share with a large group that I didn't know everyone and with a slow Internet connection. The PP website can be slow enough sometimes as it is.

Thanks for giving your opinion on this, I just really appreciate the reassurance. I "know" these people, as in, from the March planning thread and some of them are now my friends on FB - but I don't know any of them IRL. If it was a smaller share (as in 2 families) - I would be totally OK with that, but right now we are at 6 families and that just doesn't make me feel comfortable.

That is good that you figured out the financial stuff. It is never a fun job but as least it is for Disney and not household stuff!

I enjoy it, somewhat, because I think it keeps me motivated... Looking at how much I have accomplished and how little I have left really makes me feel good. I do have to say though - if DH wouldn't have given us our airfare for Christmas, I never would have made my time goals, and I would have had to reschedule our trip. So, I am very thankful for Josh - I seriously wouldn't be going on this trip if it wasn't for him.

You'll get your 7-8 days added!

I know, I am just obsessive about it.

I understand completely. These are a few of the reasons why I don't want to do the PP share. Plus, I'm impatient and once I'm done with edits, I want to be able to submit.

Thanks for giving me your honest input on this - I really appreciate it. I just keep waffling back and forth, and since it seems that $$ won't be an issue, as much as I thought, I really think I would feel better paying $100 for the PP.

Wanna buy my GCs, too? I could use a healthy discount.

I wish I could. Every time I go into work, I keep expecting the execs to be there and escort me out because I've purchased over $3k in Disney GCs in the last 2 months... Not that I can't, it just looks weird.

Always better to have too much and bring home extra than not enough! I'm sure you don't wanna wash dishes. But if you do, can I take pics?

Exactly my thought... and yes, if they make me do dishes - you can definately take pics, as long as you send me copies.

I'll pick ... 3. Is that a good enough number? Just trying to help you out. But I can pick more numbers if you prefer. I am studying accounting.

I agree, 3 is a good number - but it isn't exactly what I was thinking... You need to crunch those #s a bit more...

As an adoptive mom with bio parent issues... the only thing I do NOT like with a photo pass share is when everyone else in the share gets to see your kids. (yes, I am over protective!)

I was able to do one where the person heading it was very understanding. I was the last person to add their photos and edit and then let him know to submit. He made sure that none of my pictures were included in any one elses cd. (He was also an adoptive parent)

The last one I was in...not so much! We got 5 cds with everyone's pictures in it. I think it took me longer to delete the pictures that weren't mine than it would have for the leader to pull everyone's out...my computer wouldn't co operate! LOL!

With all that said...I probably won't be doing another share this time. Partly because I don't know exactly when we are going, and partly because we can never find enough photographers to make it worth my while! Since I have paid for it the past three joint trips, I'm hoping my daughter in law picks up the whole tab this year!

Nini

Nini, everything you said made perfect sense. Even though I had pretty much made my decision before I read your reply - your post just reassured me that I am making the right decision. Thank you.

Yeah - the share I did was with two friends from here . . . The Bestie and another good friend of ours (they were there the same week and we were there two weeks before they were). I did the ordering because I was going to be in the parks first . . . I didn't view mine until part way into our trip because I wanted to give us the most amount of time for editing that I could . . .
We had all finished editing a couple of days before Christmas and paid for the express shipping (WELL WORTH IT since the cds showed up the day after Christmas and I think I submitted it the 24th!!!) -express shipping was a whole $2 more than regular shipping.

I made the cds and I asked them if they just wanted their own pics or all of the pics. They each only wanted their own, so that's what I made them I don't think I'd want to do a share with people I didn't know. . . A share with a bunch of y'all, who I know, sure. A share with a bunch of random Disers that I don't know, no thanks

Yup... the last time, we went with personal friends and neighbors - so it worked out really well... This tme, I just don't want to share with strangers, or have strangers with access to our pictures... Not that I have any reason not to trust them, that's not it at all.

I finished up our DLR xmas trip....its in my OCT wdw TR if anyone wants to see it!

Yay! Going to look as soon as I am done typing.

I just received my Mickey bag and it is better than the pictures. I love love love it! Thank you so much.

I am so glad you received it and you love it!

Beautiful!!!! I'm stumped on this being your longest applique to date -- you must be including the time it took to sew the buttons on. Other appliques you have done have seemed to me like they had tinier details. I love the buttons and I adore the little strings of buttons too! I also love the combinations of fabrics.

Actually, I don't think it's my longest to date... I think my Splash Mountain was the longest... Russell was definately my most difficult, but Donald's boat was right up there too... OK - so I've done a couple of hard projects - this is just my most recent hardest project...

I think you were smart to opt out of a large PP share. I never even looked at my photopass pics. We had so few taken since dh refused to do them (even though he agreed to before we left for the trip). The only pics would have been dd with characters and I took my own as well, so likely would have been redundant.

It's not that large, only 6 families (I've seen larger)... but I really wanted to be a part of a smaller share - I would have felt better with 4 families or less. The girls and I make a game of seeking out the photographers, so hopefully we can find as many as we did last time.

Minnesotans must not pay very well for baby sitting. Every time we have a sitter it costs me about that -- hence we hardly ever go out. I'm ready to ditch the kids tonight though because dd was screaming and carrying on in the car on the way home from school b/c her DS wasn't working right -- the horse wouldn't run fast enough so it was clearly a broken DS and not an incompetent child. And then ds had a fit once he got home b/c I make him put adjectives in all his spelling sentences and he wanted to do a sentence without one and I wouldn't let him so that caused utter chaos and him arguing with me -- I don't argue back though, but it still makes me peeved. Something must have been in the air today at school for both kids to act obnoxious.

I am sure my girls would love to come babysit for you, since you pay so well... All she got was $20 from one night of babysitting 3 kids... DH just walked by and said we'll ship the girls to you - you can have them June, July & Aug. LOL

We have nights like that too... where it's just chaos and every little thing snowballs... That's why we are in bed by 8 pm.

I really wanted to come home and do my BG shirt b/c I'm so frustrated with the kids that I think I'll make mistakes on it

I hope you can work on it tomorrow.

Looks like your trip is coming together. It's getting soooo close. Did you notice that Touring plans changed their all over crowd level from 10 to 9 on March 10th.

I have not been on TP today... I will have to mosey on over there and see what needs to be seen. Thanks for letting me know.

[Yea I don't think I would do more than a couple of people when doing a photo share. I have done a share both times I have gone to WDW. The first was a gift from someone for our Wish Trip and she included two other families. And the other one I was incharge of, but I did it with a friend and her sister. I don't think I could ever do a large group, to easy for pictures to get mixed up and end up where you don't want them.

Thanks so much for your opinion, as well... You guys are all so great to help me make these tough decisions.

D~

 

[DMGeurts]

AMAZING (as always)

My dd wants me to ask you how long it took to make the whole bag...(I love when my kids express any interest in my Dis friends...)

We have never purchased a photopass CD. I did buy one picture from our first trip when we arrived home. I always give my camera to the photopass guy/gal or the handler for the character and have them take a shot. I find that they are as good as the photo pass pics... and cheaper!

Deb

Thanks!

I am sure your dd isn't going to like my answer... The truth is, on this bag, I have no idea how much time it took me to make the entire thing. I was working on it as I could, in between projects, and because it was for dd - I really never kept track, because it didn't matter. I will give you a guess though - how's that? If I was to guess, I would say it took me about 30 hours to make this bag... It takes me about 6 hours to cut all the fabric and stabilizer, then iron it all together. About another 4 hours to assemble the first part of the bag. An hour for the strap. And about 2 to 3 hours for final assembly. And, of course 17 hours for the applique. I think that's a pretty accurate guesstimate.

D~

 

[dianemom2]

Minnesotans must not pay very well for baby sitting. Every time we have a sitter it costs me about that -- hence we hardly ever go out. I'm ready to ditch the kids tonight though because dd was screaming and carrying on in the car on the way home from school b/c her DS wasn't working right -- the horse wouldn't run fast enough so it was clearly a broken DS and not an incompetent child. And then ds had a fit once he got home b/c I make him put adjectives in all his spelling sentences and he wanted to do a sentence without one and I wouldn't let him so that caused utter chaos and him arguing with me -- I don't argue back though, but it still makes me peeved. Something must have been in the air today at school for both kids to act obnoxious.

I really wanted to come home and do my BG shirt b/c I'm so frustrated with the kids that I think I'll make mistakes on it

I agree that babysitting must be cheaper in Minnesota! Sorry that you had a rough afternoon and couldn't work on your Big Give shirt. I worked on mine this morning and the machine ate my shirt on the very last color

I am sure my girls would love to come babysit for you, since you pay so well... All she got was $20 from one night of babysitting 3 kids... DH just walked by and said we'll ship the girls to you - you can have them June, July & Aug. LOL
D~

Wow, $20 for babysitting for a whole evening for 3 kids! We used to pay $10 to $12 per hour. I was so happy when we found a sitter who was in high school and only charged us $7 per hour. We hardly ever went out because it got so expensive. Finally my best friend and I started trading kids for sleepovers so that we could get a night out without it costing a fortune. Now my girls are old enough to watch themselves for an evening. Very soon they will be old enough to start babysitting. I can't wait until I can make them pay for some of the stuff they beg me to buy them now. My sister in law likes to have my girls come to be mothers helpers during the summer and she pays them about $3 or $4 per hour.

 

[miprender]

We love the Photopass and my trip in July we had over 500 pictures before editing but I have only done one photoshare when it was still legal on the disboards but the quality of copying it to another CD was grainy so the last two years we just pre purchase and seek out every PP there is.
I really love doing the special photos with TB, Simba or the balloons.

Have you ever checked out StitchKingdom were he shows all the shots you can get. http://www.stitchkingdom.com/disneysphotopass/

Cool! It's because we're such a small state . . . no one suspects us

Thanks Michelle - and thanks for commenting twice. I always feel weird posting in several places... I always post here first though. I post on FB because I know my family wants to see, and I post on the Disbou thread because I know that some of those people don't follow my PTR. I really try to limit my posts to those 3 places though.

D~

If I was sewing these amazing bags I would be posting them everywhere

 

[Lidian]

Hate to say it Liddy - but you aren't the only Stephanie that's here... That's why I call you Liddy.

I am too, the only Stephanie in the world!

Oooh - I love jazz fingers!

Me too!

You didn't get the memo?

No, someone must not have passed it on.

Thanks for giving me your honest input on this - I really appreciate it. I just keep waffling back and forth, and since it seems that $$ won't be an issue, as much as I thought, I really think I would feel better paying $100 for the PP.

I don't blame you. I'mn just glad that you're deciding what's best for you and your family, and your trip!

I wish I could. Every time I go into work, I keep expecting the execs to be there and escort me out because I've purchased over $3k in Disney GCs in the last 2 months... Not that I can't, it just looks weird.

I can see it now ... it will be plastered all over the news:
Target Employee Laundering Money Through Disney Gift Cards
More tonight at eleven.

Below the headline will be pictures of a SWAT team escorting you off. Of course, you'll be wearing your best Donald shirt.

Exactly my thought... and yes, if they make me do dishes - you can definately take pics, as long as you send me copies.

I'll happily send you copies ... at a price. B'wahahahahahahaha!
Maniacal laugh. Maniacal laugh. Maniacal laugh.

I agree, 3 is a good number - but it isn't exactly what I was thinking... You need to crunch those #s a bit more...

What are you talking about? Three is a GREAT number!

Fine, fine. I'll crunch the numbers again. The magical number is ... four.

 

[mphalens]

I finished up our DLR xmas trip....its in my OCT wdw TR if anyone wants to see it!

I do! Off to check it out in a minute!

Beautiful!!!! I'm stumped on this being your longest applique to date -- you must be including the time it took to sew the buttons on. Other appliques you have done have seemed to me like they had tinier details. I love the buttons and I adore the little strings of buttons too! I also love the combinations of fabrics.



I think you were smart to opt out of a large PP share. I never even looked at my photopass pics. We had so few taken since dh refused to do them (even though he agreed to before we left for the trip). The only pics would have been dd with characters and I took my own as well, so likely would have been redundant.

Minnesotans must not pay very well for baby sitting. Every time we have a sitter it costs me about that -- hence we hardly ever go out. I'm ready to ditch the kids tonight though because dd was screaming and carrying on in the car on the way home from school b/c her DS wasn't working right -- the horse wouldn't run fast enough so it was clearly a broken DS and not an incompetent child. And then ds had a fit once he got home b/c I make him put adjectives in all his spelling sentences and he wanted to do a sentence without one and I wouldn't let him so that caused utter chaos and him arguing with me -- I don't argue back though, but it still makes me peeved. Something must have been in the air today at school for both kids to act obnoxious.

I really wanted to come home and do my BG shirt b/c I'm so frustrated with the kids that I think I'll make mistakes on it

Oy! It must be something in the air. period. end of sentence. My kids are insane today. I really want to run away and go to the bookstore, alone, for a yummy coffee drink But I am also in a funk, so more time alone to brood is probably NOT the best idea for me tonight.

And D~ can you split the girls up for the summer? I'd gladly take one off your hands!!!

 

[lovesdumbo]

WOW! LOVE the UP bag!!! Russell is stunning. I love the stripes and the dots for the pocket! Love the buttons for badges. I used buttons for Dug's collar when I made my Up dress.

Thanks! Glad to have your laptop back too. I am hoping DH fixes ours, so I can have it with on our trip... So far, it's still sitting here.



WTG on completing the half - that is amazing! I have never been able to run... I've never had the lung capacity it takes, and I have really bad knees.

And congrats on the bounceback! A dalmation outfit would be adorable!

Funny thing is my DH is the least techno guy on the planet but he's good mechanically. I dropped my laptop in early November and knocked some stupid plastic ring around the on button out of place so I couldn't turn it on. DH just got around to looking at it and easily fixed it. Nice to have it back.

Thanks for the congratulations! I didn't RUN. You are supposed to keep a 16 min/mile pace or risk getting swept but that pace is based on when the last person crosses over the starting line. We were in the 2nd to last corral so I'm guessing we had about 12 minutes over the last person. I did not train like I should have. The longest I had walked in training was 5.5 miles and that was at a 19-19.5 min pace. I was a wreck worrying about being swept. My boss is a marathoner and his boss is an extreme marathoner-did some 50 mile thing so I was not looking forward to returning to work and having to admit that I got swept. My friend had been doing the 16 min pace in training and had done a 5K at better than 15 mins. She was great about sticking with me for the first 6 or so miles and pushed me to do a 17 min pace. Once we got through the Magic Kingdom I told her to go on her own so she wouldn't get swept with me. She made me promise that I would not give up. At mile 9 I was still 1 minute ahead of pace but by mile 10 I was 1 minute behind pace-I just missed getting swept. They had the cones in their hands and anyone who didn't get in front of the cones was going to be put in a bus and brought to the finish line (with no medal). By mile 11 they said if we looked alive and kept up a reasonable pace they wouldn't sweep us. I have to say I was hurting! My feet (remember those 2 bunion surgeries in the past 18 months) were screaming but I had promised that I wouldn't give up and I wanted that medal. I did make it in 4 hours. So 18.5 min pace over all. I had to make a potty stop so I was probably more like an 18 min pace walking. I'm still shocked that I did it. Now I think we're going to sign up for the DisneyLand half in September so we can get the special coast to coast medal. I am hoping this will make me train because I don't want a repeat of how I felt in Florida!

Have you see the medal? Isn't it awesome?
http://runitfast.com/2012/01/10/15th-anniversary-walt-disney-world-half-marathon-medal-2012/

We still have to add 8 more days of park tickets (or 7 - still haven't decided)... I have about half of it saved, and I am expecting a check next month that will finish it off (provided the entitiy remembers).

Photopass - to share or not - that is still the question. I really need to make a decision on this - and SOON. I have enough funds in Paypal to cover the cost of the $100 preorder. OK, I just talked to Josh, he is on the same line of thinking as I am - and the share I am participating in is just too large and he is not comfortable with it (neither am I) - that, combined with the fact that we don't have the fastest internet, it may make it impossible to sift through everyone else's photos just to edit my own. As much as I don't want to (I'd really like the cost savings), I am going to back out of the share.

You know you can upgrade your tickets when your there so you can start with 7 days then add a day when you know if you want the extra day. You just have to still have a valid ticket-you used to be able make any upgrades on the ticket within 14 days even if the ticket was all used up. Now you need to have an "active" ticket to do the upgrade so you would have to upgrade before you leave the park on the last day of the ticket.

I know lots of others have already said but I agree you made the correct decision with the photopass. I have only done shares with friends but have found that the more and more photos you have in the one account but saving photos with borders the slower and slower it gets.

I also ask the photopass photographers to take a photo with my camera. I have the same camera they use but they have the resolution set too low so they can store more photos with less memory. Even when I don't take my dSLR my point & shoot does a better job than their cameras. I do love the special borders though.

AND...if you do find that you aren't happy with your photopass pictures since you are doing it on your own now you could get a refund and not be obligated to get the CD.

I really wanted to come home and do my BG shirt b/c I'm so frustrated with the kids that I think I'll make mistakes on it

Sorry you're having a frustrating night.

 

[lovesdumbo]

I finished up our DLR xmas trip....its in my OCT wdw TR if anyone wants to see it!

I have to go check that out now that I have my laptop back. Looks like I'll be going to DL for Labor Day.

 

[mommy2mrb]

I can see it now ... it will be plastered all over the news:
Target Employee Laundering Money Through Disney Gift Cards
More tonight at eleven.

Below the headline will be pictures of a SWAT team escorting you off. Of course, you'll be wearing your best Donald shirt.

I just spit my water out...lucky it didn't hit my computer
think we'd all have to be character witnesses in D~ defense

I do! Off to check it out in a minute!

yay!


Oy! It must be something in the air. period. end of sentence. My kids are insane today. I really want to run away and go to the bookstore, alone, for a yummy coffee drink But I am also in a funk, so more time alone to brood is probably NOT the best idea for me tonight.

hope everyone's mood gets better

And D~ can you split the girls up for the summer? I'd gladly take one off your hands!!!

you want Megan too! so over the snow days...district just called...closed again tomorrow....so need to get out of the house

I have to go check that out now that I have my laptop back. Looks like I'll be going to DL for Labor Day.

Fun! good luck with the marathon!



Andrea sorry about the rough day....I'm ready for Megan to go back to school, need some quiet time....hopefully Friday!!

 

[mphalens]

you want Megan too! so over the snow days...district just called...closed again tomorrow....so need to get out of the house

Sure! Of course, Lisa & Rachel might have something to say about that

 

[DMGeurts]

I agree that babysitting must be cheaper in Minnesota! Sorry that you had a rough afternoon and couldn't work on your Big Give shirt. I worked on mine this morning and the machine ate my shirt on the very last color

It's not that babysitters are cheap, it's that some of our neighbors take advantage of of my girls and don't pay them very well... But will turn around and hire other kids and pay them waaaay better (we know this because my girls go to school with those other kids and they tell). It's super irritating and very hurtful to my girls.

I hope that your machine is much better for you today.

Wow, $20 for babysitting for a whole evening for 3 kids! We used to pay $10 to $12 per hour. I was so happy when we found a sitter who was in high school and only charged us $7 per hour. We hardly ever went out because it got so expensive. Finally my best friend and I started trading kids for sleepovers so that we could get a night out without it costing a fortune. Now my girls are old enough to watch themselves for an evening. Very soon they will be old enough to start babysitting. I can't wait until I can make them pay for some of the stuff they beg me to buy them now. My sister in law likes to have my girls come to be mothers helpers during the summer and she pays them about $3 or $4 per hour.

It is nice when they start paying for some of their own items.

We love the Photopass and my trip in July we had over 500 pictures before editing but I have only done one photoshare when it was still legal on the disboards but the quality of copying it to another CD was grainy so the last two years we just pre purchase and seek out every PP there is.
I really love doing the special photos with TB, Simba or the balloons.

Have you ever checked out StitchKingdom were he shows all the shots you can get. http://www.stitchkingdom.com/disneysphotopass/

Yep Stitch Kingdom is awesome, that's where I learned everything I know about PP.

If I was sewing these amazing bags I would be posting them everywhere

ROFL.

I don't blame you. I'mn just glad that you're deciding what's best for you and your family, and your trip!

Thanks Liddy.

I can see it now ... it will be plastered all over the news:
Target Employee Laundering Money Through Disney Gift Cards More tonight at eleven.

ROFL - yes, that is exactly what I need in my life...

Below the headline will be pictures of a SWAT team escorting you off. Of course, you'll be wearing your best Donald shirt.

Yes, I would put on my best Donald shirt for the occasion. Long Live The Duck!

And D~ can you split the girls up for the summer? I'd gladly take one off your hands!!!

Certainly can... Maybe they'll love each other if the spend the summer apart?

WOW! LOVE the UP bag!!! Russell is stunning. I love the stripes and the dots for the pocket! Love the buttons for badges. I used buttons for Dug's collar when I made my Up dress.

Thanks! I didn't know you made an Up dress.... If I would have known, I probably would have cased you.

Funny thing is my DH is the least techno guy on the planet but he's good mechanically. I dropped my laptop in early November and knocked some stupid plastic ring around the on button out of place so I couldn't turn it on. DH just got around to looking at it and easily fixed it. Nice to have it back.

Thanks for the congratulations! I didn't RUN. You are supposed to keep a 16 min/mile pace or risk getting swept but that pace is based on when the last person crosses over the starting line. We were in the 2nd to last corral so I'm guessing we had about 12 minutes over the last person. I did not train like I should have. The longest I had walked in training was 5.5 miles and that was at a 19-19.5 min pace. I was a wreck worrying about being swept. My boss is a marathoner and his boss is an extreme marathoner-did some 50 mile thing so I was not looking forward to returning to work and having to admit that I got swept. My friend had been doing the 16 min pace in training and had done a 5K at better than 15 mins. She was great about sticking with me for the first 6 or so miles and pushed me to do a 17 min pace. Once we got through the Magic Kingdom I told her to go on her own so she wouldn't get swept with me. She made me promise that I would not give up. At mile 9 I was still 1 minute ahead of pace but by mile 10 I was 1 minute behind pace-I just missed getting swept. They had the cones in their hands and anyone who didn't get in front of the cones was going to be put in a bus and brought to the finish line (with no medal). By mile 11 they said if we looked alive and kept up a reasonable pace they wouldn't sweep us. I have to say I was hurting! My feet (remember those 2 bunion surgeries in the past 18 months) were screaming but I had promised that I wouldn't give up and I wanted that medal. I did make it in 4 hours. So 18.5 min pace over all. I had to make a potty stop so I was probably more like an 18 min pace walking. I'm still shocked that I did it. Now I think we're going to sign up for the DisneyLand half in September so we can get the special coast to coast medal. I am hoping this will make me train because I don't want a repeat of how I felt in Florida!

Have you see the medal? Isn't it awesome?
http://runitfast.com/2012/01/10/15th-anniversary-walt-disney-world-half-marathon-medal-2012/

That is an awesome story! I love how you didn't give up and you just kept running, even though you were so close to being swept. GREAT JOB!!! And, of course, I love the medal! That would be an awesome medal to have.

You know you can upgrade your tickets when your there so you can start with 7 days then add a day when you know if you want the extra day. You just have to still have a valid ticket-you used to be able make any upgrades on the ticket within 14 days even if the ticket was all used up. Now you need to have an "active" ticket to do the upgrade so you would have to upgrade before you leave the park on the last day of the ticket.

This is very good to know... I didn't realize they changed the tickets like that - I would have been SoL if I tried to add another ticket on our last day. I really apprecate you telling me about this.

I know lots of others have already said but I agree you made the correct decision with the photopass. I have only done shares with friends but have found that the more and more photos you have in the one account but saving photos with borders the slower and slower it gets.

Thanks... And I am one of those people who has to add every single border to every single picture...

I also ask the photopass photographers to take a photo with my camera. I have the same camera they use but they have the resolution set too low so they can store more photos with less memory. Even when I don't take my dSLR my point & shoot does a better job than their cameras. I do love the special borders though.

I will try to remember to do this. I don't have a fancy camera or anything, but I think it takes pretty decent pics.

AND...if you do find that you aren't happy with your photopass pictures since you are doing it on your own now you could get a refund and not be obligated to get the CD.

Thanks for the reminder about this too... I'd forgotten about this.

I just spit my water out...lucky it didn't hit my computer
think we'd all have to be character witnesses in D~ defense

So, will you all be wearing your best Character shirts as well???

you want Megan too! so over the snow days...district just called...closed again tomorrow....so need to get out of the house

I was watching the news last night, I couldn't believe how much snow you've gotten. Drive safe out there.


I plan to work on my bag order this morning, I am going to try and finish up quilting it, then I am going to assemble what I can with out the blasted zippers that I forgot to get... Grrr... still irritated with myself over that one.

So, this afternoon, I am going to try and finish up a bunch of half finished projects I have going on... Allison's Pirate skirt is a major one - I have had it done for months, all I have to do is add the bottom hem...

I will also be stalking the mail man all day, because Marianne told me my package should be arriving today...

I am hoping to have a ton of pictures to post by the end of the day... Pirate skirt pictures, any other projects I finish off of my pile, Pixie Dust pictures.... I'll probably be posting them as I finish them.

D~

 

[VBAndrea]

I am sure my girls would love to come babysit for you, since you pay so well... All she got was $20 from one night of babysitting 3 kids... DH just walked by and said we'll ship the girls to you - you can have them June, July & Aug. LOL
D~

I hope she only watched them for 2 hours! I pay about $10/hr (never less than $9) and I have two very well behaved kids (well, except for yesterday after school!). They love babysitters though and are always angels for them.

I agree that babysitting must be cheaper in Minnesota! Sorry that you had a rough afternoon and couldn't work on your Big Give shirt. I worked on mine this morning and the machine ate my shirt on the very last color


Wow, $20 for babysitting for a whole evening for 3 kids! We used to pay $10 to $12 per hour. I was so happy when we found a sitter who was in high school and only charged us $7 per hour. We hardly ever went out because it got so expensive. Finally my best friend and I started trading kids for sleepovers so that we could get a night out without it costing a fortune. Now my girls are old enough to watch themselves for an evening. Very soon they will be old enough to start babysitting. I can't wait until I can make them pay for some of the stuff they beg me to buy them now. My sister in law likes to have my girls come to be mothers helpers during the summer and she pays them about $3 or $4 per hour.

We had a young sitter in RI who only charged $7 an hour and the kids quite liked her. I am also lucky that my sister will occasionally watch my kids -- though she is single and usually has plans. My mom will watch the kids during daytime hours only, and she's 81 and a little loopy now so we try to limit that -- my kids are old enough now though that I tell them they are babysitting their grandma!



Two of my quotes disappeared -- lovesdumbo and Lisa's --

yeah on the marathon and all your hard work!

And the kids calmed down rather quickly. DD was sent to her room and she just plays there by herself and calms down doing that. DS took a bit longer -- he's usually my sweet, super well behaved child, but he's almost 10 now and starting to pick up a little attitude, particularly with school work. And he had a homework assignment in his folder that I didn't see until this morning!!!! Something he needed help with --- Grrrrr!!!!! Didn't take too long, but he's old enough to be responsible and get all his homework done in the evening. He has a big Civil War paper that just got assigned (making a newspaper and covering numerous topics) which I am dreading. I hate history and he will need guidance with it, so both of will likely be miserable doing it!

Lisa -- I'm sure Megan enjoyed her rare days off -- but yes, I'm sure you're ready for a little peace too!

 

[mphalens]

It's not that babysitters are cheap, it's that some of our neighbors take advantage of of my girls and don't pay them very well... But will turn around and hire other kids and pay them waaaay better (we know this because my girls go to school with those other kids and they tell). It's super irritating and very hurtful to my girls.

That really stinks! I have a girl who started off as a mother's helper and now babysits by herself (well, usually her bff comes with her, but not always) . . I try to pay her at least $10 an hr, but sometimes I have to pay her a little less if that's all I have, kwim? I always try to make up for a smaller amount on the next babysitting job though.

ROFL - yes, that is exactly what I need in my life...



Yes, I would put on my best Donald shirt for the occasion. Long Live The Duck!

I can see it now - D~ in her Donald shirt, struggling with the police, maybe trying to ward them off by swinging her Donald UPB???

Certainly can... Maybe they'll love each other if the spend the summer apart?

That's it!

Thanks... And I am one of those people who has to add every single border to every single picture...

I do this too!!! I added all kinds of different holiday borders to my PP pics, even though I didn't get the cd until after Christmas.

So, will you all be wearing your best Character shirts as well???

Of course! Well, we might have to make new ones for the occasion . . . I'm thinking a bright orange with a black & white stripe maybe???

I will also be stalking the mail man all day, because Marianne told me my package should be arriving today...

Don't forget to take lots of pictures of the unwrapping process!!!

I am hoping to have a ton of pictures to post by the end of the day... Pirate skirt pictures, any other projects I finish off of my pile, Pixie Dust pictures.... I'll probably be posting them as I finish them.

Cannot WAIT to see - just think of all the pics you're going to get to post today!!!