The DDA Trouble Free Zone Part 4

[Glynis]

That is such a great idea. I love it. By our 4th boy we had everything we really needed, I could have used meals. I had complications from my c-section as it was a failed VBAC. We lived off fastfood for a month. (DH doesn't cook anything but breakfast items ).

I had never heard of it before, either, but it was fabulous for me. Now, when I go to a baby shower that's what I usually do. People get so much "stuff" for babies, but dinners are what is really needed. At least from my perspective.

 

[tinknme]

I love it

Did I tell you guys my WHOLE family is into Disney??!!

 

[Glynis]

That's exactly what the Easter Bunny is bringing to our house. Chronicles of Narnia will go in Laura's (12) basket, and Chicken Little in Miles' (almost 7). Anyone have any ideas for a DVD for a 15 year old boy? Any birthday present ideas?!! I'm getting desperate!

Beth

My kids are getting:

Katie - Harry Potter 4
Jacob - Chronicles of Narnia
Leslie - Thumbelina
Mary - A Bug's Life

Do you already have Harry Potter? That would probably go over big with a 15 year old.

 

[triplefigs]

I had never heard of it before, either, but it was fabulous for me. Now, when I go to a baby shower that's what I usually do. People get so much "stuff" for babies, but dinners are what is really needed. At least from my perspective.

I totally agree! When my kiddos were born, they were in the hospital for 12 weeks and then came home on all kinds of monitors, medical equipment, etc. It was a LONG first year full of hospital stays, surgeries, doctor's appts, procedures, etc. Well, our friends, family, co-workers, and church got us an upright deep freezer (the BIG one!) and literally kept it filled with meals for an entire year. I have no idea how John and I would have survived that year without all of their help. We have no family in State, so we were on our own 99% of the time. I don't even remember most of the "baby" gifts we got, but I sure do remember all those wonderful people who made sure we had food to eat. It was such a blessing from God to have them do that for us.

 

[triplefigs]

Do you already have Harry Potter? That would probably go over big with a 15 year old.

It sure went over well with ME for my 37th b'day!

 

[Glynis]

Ok. So Glynis, Midnite (and maybe a few others) have mentioned FlyLady on several occasions. I got the book "Sink Reflections", and it sounds fantastic! The writing is very light and encouraging, and sounds like a great plan. For me, I can't do most of it quite yet because 75%+ of my stuff is in storage.... but maybe you'd like it! It's seems like it will be great for those of us who just can't find a place to start

I wholeheartedly recommend Flylady!!!!!!! Sink Reflections is the best book! If you don't have that book, go to her website www.flylady.com and look around. Sign up for her email announcements, and periodically through the day you'll get reminders to do a load of laundry (oh that reminds me I have to go change mine), to de-clutter for 15 minutes, etc. She gives small tasks that never take more than 15 minutes to do, and pretty soon you start to see a HUGE difference in your home, and in your attitude, too.

Her mantra is "Housework done incorrectly still blesses my family." I feel that's so true! I may not do my housework the "perfect" way, but I do it my way and I'm so much happier about myself and my house. She's really big on routines, and that has helped me out so much! I've even made morning, after school and before bed routines for my children. It helps them feel more responsible around the house, and they are taking more pride in their belongings as well.

Ok, I'll step off my soapbox, now! Take a look, and see if it's something that will work for you!

 

[Tammi67]

Afternoon, y'all! Rees finally slept well last pm. Didn't get up until 11am, so I think his body is trying to catch up. BK is really coughing, but seems to be ok with cough meds. Taking the kids to the park this afternoon to play. It's a beautiful day.

Any thoughts on changing my Donalds B'fast from 8:30 to 8am so that we can start AK right at opening?

Also, CP b'fast vs dinner. B'fast is at 8:05 so we get to go into the park early, good picture ops, done at opening vs dinner at 6:35pm which would be a good way to wind down the day and be done right when Wishes starts and just go to the porch of CP to watch Wishes?

Thought and opinion appreciated.

ETA: Kate,hope your doctor's appt goes well. Marti, your friend is in my prayers and hope Hunka is feeling better today.

Regarding the Donald bfast...how long will it take you to do everything in AK? If you need all day, then I would say move it to 8. If not, leave it as is and have a leisurely day. Did you see the parade there last year? We finally saw it in December. Don't miss it.

Now about CP...I know this is terrible to do, but since you have them, why not hold both ressies and just see what you feel like doing?

 

[UP Disney]

It sure went over well with ME for my 37th b'day!

Harry Potter has come out on or near my birthday the last couple of times. My birthday present was the entire family going to the theater to watch it. We don't go to the theater much but Harry Potter was a must-see. I want Harry Potter for my Easter basket. I'm afraid to put it in my kids because they'll take them with them when they leave the house!!!

We are looking at different movies and books for our girls for Easter. There is a set of books that my eldest just started reading and I want to get her a couple of those. Becky likes the new Fairie series by Disney and I saw some little ones out the other day. They are a little young for her but she enjoyed the Quest book and loves Tinkerbell. We never get much candy anymore because at Halloween I'm throwing out the Easter candy and at Easter I'm throwing out the Halloween & Christmas candy.

 

[UP Disney]

I wholeheartedly recommend Flylady!!!!!!! Sink Reflections is the best book! If you don't have that book, go to her website www.flylady.com and look around. Sign up for her email announcements, and periodically through the day you'll get reminders to do a load of laundry (oh that reminds me I have to go change mine), to de-clutter for 15 minutes, etc. She gives small tasks that never take more than 15 minutes to do, and pretty soon you start to see a HUGE difference in your home, and in your attitude, too.

Her mantra is "Housework done incorrectly still blesses my family." I feel that's so true! I may not do my housework the "perfect" way, but I do it my way and I'm so much happier about myself and my house. She's really big on routines, and that has helped me out so much! I've even made morning, after school and before bed routines for my children. It helps them feel more responsible around the house, and they are taking more pride in their belongings as well.

Ok, I'll step off my soapbox, now! Take a look, and see if it's something that will work for you!

The e-mails overwhelmed me so I signed up to get them all at once at the end of the day. That helped. I didn't read her book but pretty much read "everything" on her site. I tried to implement one thing at a time starting with keeping the kitchen sink & counter cleaned off. I understand your soap box. You'll understand why when I post some before pictures later. My whole house wasn't a mess but it was very disorganized.

 

[Glynis]

Here's your challenge for today based on Flylady! I want you to do a 27-fling boogie. What is this you ask? "This is a tool to help you declutter your home. Do this assignment as fast as you can. Take a garbage bag and walk through your home and throw away 27 items. Do not stop until you have collected all 27 items. Then close the garbage bag and pitch it. DO NOT LOOK IN IT!!! Just do it. Next, take an empty box and go through your home collecting 27 items to give away. As soon as you finish filling the box, take it to the car. You are less tempted to rescue the items. If you have two of any item and you only need one, get rid of the least desirable."

OK, I'm off to work on my office for several hours.

Woohoo! I already did the Flylady task today. I try to get it done before I start Dis'ing or doing my homework. That way, I know that at least one thing will get done around my house during the day.

We've made a game out of the 27 fling boogie around our house. Mid-afternoon I put on some peppy music (right now it's Forever Plaid) and give the kids a bag. We set the timer for one minute and everyone runs around the house picking up as much stuff to throw away as we can. Then we fling our bags into the garbage can. The music makes us all want to dance, so we are dancing our way to a cleaner house. On weekends, we do the same thing with the weekly cleaning chores. I've got them written on 3X5 cards and I put them face down on the kitchen table. When the music starts the kids pick a card and do the chore. We dance our way through it, and then grab another card. We've found we can tidy our house in about an hour, and then we have the rest of Saturday to play. It sounds kind of stupid, I know, but it works for our family, and I don't have to scream like a banshee to get my kids to help out anymore! Yay! I always hated that!

 

[rosiejo]

Finally caught up - now I can post my great news! I succumbed to the lure of free food and booked a short trip (August 31-September 5 at Pop) and will be taking my granddaughter (17 yesterday) with me. Got all of the ADRs I asked for. I planned this on such a spur of the moment that I may try to change a couple, but so far I have Kona Cafe for breakfast our first morning, LTT for dinner the second night, Chef Mickey's the third night, Prime Time the fourth night and Tony's for lunch on the last day (I already know I'm going to try to change that to CP for a late breakfast instead). Now I need to start watching airfare.

I was going to try to go to the DDA meet in Washington, but I know the DDA will forgive me for choosing Mickey instead (the dollars just won't support both). Can't wait to start making shirts and doing the "real" planning again!

What a great grandma you are

 

[ellenbenny]

After a couple more phone calls to WDW today, our Sept trip dates are finallized because I booked the non-refundable air through Disney.

We (DH and I) will be staying at the Pop Century from Sat. Sept 16 - Sat. Sept 23, with free dining. We got Non-stop flights on Airtran for $157 R/T per person.

I made all of our ADR's this morning... which may change a few times between now and September. This list may seem strange, but DH and I have been to Disney many times, so I wanted to try some places we have never been. Also, I am booking assuming that we will share all of our Table Service Meals except for the Fantasmic Dinner Package and the breakfast buffets. If we decide we don't feel like sharing at all meals then I will cancel the extra ADRs, but this way we get to eat at lots of differerent places. Chances are though that with the Appetizers and Desserts we will have no problem getting plenty to eat.

Here is the list:

Sat Sept 16: Arrival, Grand Floridian Cafe - Dinner
Sun Sept 17: Prime Time Cafe - Dinner
Mon Sept 18: Olivia's Cafe - Dinner
Tues Sept 19: Liberty Tree Tavern - Lunch, Concourse Steakhouse - Dinner
Weds Sept 20: 1900 Park Fare - Breakfast, Maya Grill - Dinner
Thurs Sept 21: Mama Melrose - Fantasmic Dinner Package
Fri Sept 22: Plaza Restaurant - Lunch, Kona Cafe - Dinner
Sat Sept 23: Ohana - Breakfast

Is anyone else going to be there for any of these dates?

 

[triplefigs]

Regarding the Donald bfast...how long will it take you to do everything in AK? If you need all day, then I would say move it to 8. If not, leave it as is and have a leisurely day. Did you see the parade there last year? We finally saw it in December. Don't miss it.

Now about CP...I know this is terrible to do, but since you have them, why not hold both ressies and just see what you feel like doing?

We don't need to see the parade again. Kids thought it was ok. We didn't even make it to Asia or Dinoland in December, so we really want to see all of that.

Must Do's are: the Safari, FOLTK show, Pocahontas show, EE, Boneyard, train out to the conservatory, Triceratop Spin. I don't think they'd do Kali River Rapids, Dinosaur, or Tough to Be a Bug. Anything else I'm missing we should do?

 

[KristineN]

I was just talking to a CM...seems they have the MNSSHP dates. I believe they matched what everyone thought.

Sept 29
Oct. 2, 5, 6, 10, 12, 16, 17, 19, 20, 23, 24, 26, 27, 30, 31

Also, they have a speical through Air Tran...if you have the pkg and buy the airline tickets through them they have some discounted fairs. The cheapest would be 129 round trip...if you can get it. The cheapest for me was 156 round trip. Which is pretty good...but it's at the airport so far from me. It would cost me $100 in transportation to get there. SO all in all I could save $100...not sure it's wort the hassle. But maybe for some of you it would work out!!

Oh and one more thing..you have to pay for the tickes in full & non refundable..

 

[Glynis]

It sure went over well with ME for my 37th b'day!

Alan was really mad when I bought the DVD the day it came out and promptly hid it away for an Easter basket treat. He wanted to watch it then and there. I told him that it would take him until Easter to watch the first 3 again and then Easter Sunday we can pop in the 4th one. Not a happy hubby.

 

[Linzybrooke]

Woohoo! I already did the Flylady task today. I try to get it done before I start Dis'ing or doing my homework. That way, I know that at least one thing will get done around my house during the day.

We've made a game out of the 27 fling boogie around our house. Mid-afternoon I put on some peppy music (right now it's Forever Plaid) and give the kids a bag. We set the timer for one minute and everyone runs around the house picking up as much stuff to throw away as we can. Then we fling our bags into the garbage can. The music makes us all want to dance, so we are dancing our way to a cleaner house. On weekends, we do the same thing with the weekly cleaning chores. I've got them written on 3X5 cards and I put them face down on the kitchen table. When the music starts the kids pick a card and do the chore. We dance our way through it, and then grab another card. We've found we can tidy our house in about an hour, and then we have the rest of Saturday to play. It sounds kind of stupid, I know, but it works for our family, and I don't have to scream like a banshee to get my kids to help out anymore! Yay! I always hated that!

Being an incredibly disorganized gal myself I love your daily and Saturday chores! I wonder if I can get my two pomeranians to help out...

 

[rosiejo]

Don't get me involved in this. I know which of the whole lot of you can make my life most miserable. Besides, I've never seen an unflattering picture of my lovely wife.

--Kevin

Now Kevin - is that really you... or Amy pretending to throw us off the scent :

 

[Glynis]

Harry Potter has come out on or near my birthday the last couple of times. My birthday present was the entire family going to the theater to watch it. We don't go to the theater much but Harry Potter was a must-see. I want Harry Potter for my Easter basket. I'm afraid to put it in my kids because they'll take them with them when they leave the house!!!

We are looking at different movies and books for our girls for Easter. There is a set of books that my eldest just started reading and I want to get her a couple of those. Becky likes the new Fairie series by Disney and I saw some little ones out the other day. They are a little young for her but she enjoyed the Quest book and loves Tinkerbell. We never get much candy anymore because at Halloween I'm throwing out the Easter candy and at Easter I'm throwing out the Halloween & Christmas candy.

Katie loves the new fairy books as well! She has 3 of the little ones (we're waiting for the fourth) and just finished Quest. Becky will probably love them. I loved reading them, too.

 

[Glynis]

Being an incredibly disorganized gal myself I love your daily and Saturday chores! I wonder if I can get my two pomeranians to help out...

Well, I got my twins to help, and they are about as trained as a couple of puppies...

 

[tink2020]

Woohoo! I already did the Flylady task today. I try to get it done before I start Dis'ing or doing my homework. That way, I know that at least one thing will get done around my house during the day.

We've made a game out of the 27 fling boogie around our house. Mid-afternoon I put on some peppy music (right now it's Forever Plaid) and give the kids a bag. We set the timer for one minute and everyone runs around the house picking up as much stuff to throw away as we can. Then we fling our bags into the garbage can. The music makes us all want to dance, so we are dancing our way to a cleaner house. On weekends, we do the same thing with the weekly cleaning chores. I've got them written on 3X5 cards and I put them face down on the kitchen table. When the music starts the kids pick a card and do the chore. We dance our way through it, and then grab another card. We've found we can tidy our house in about an hour, and then we have the rest of Saturday to play. It sounds kind of stupid, I know, but it works for our family, and I don't have to scream like a banshee to get my kids to help out anymore! Yay! I always hated that!

That sounds like a fantastic idea! We do everything to music around here, too... I'll have to remember the 3x5 card thing for when I have kids. With that, there really isn't much room for complaint about a particular chore as it's just luck!