The Everything Happens for a Reason TR--Last Trip as a WDW CM*ONE MORE SLEEP! pg 25

[nic100308]

Don't worry about the test. Anytime I would take an exam, once it was over I didn't not speak or think about it. I would put it completely out of my head, because there was nothing I could do. Thank goodness it always turned out well, but if I got to thinking and second guessing I would make myself crazy. At least Disney will be a welcome and wonderful distraction!!!

I love the goodies that you've gotten. I have to look for those gloves!! I had them in the back of my head for just in case and I keep wavering. But I would rather have them just in case.

I love the Christmas tree!!! We will be going the day after we return to get ours. I figured it was perfect because I will decorate before we leave and then when we get back we'll get our tree and put all our new ornaments on it!!!

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

Don't worry about the test. Anytime I would take an exam, once it was over I didn't not speak or think about it. I would put it completely out of my head, because there was nothing I could do. Thank goodness it always turned out well, but if I got to thinking and second guessing I would make myself crazy. At least Disney will be a welcome and wonderful distraction!!!

I love the goodies that you've gotten. I have to look for those gloves!! I had them in the back of my head for just in case and I keep wavering. But I would rather have them just in case.

I love the Christmas tree!!! We will be going the day after we return to get ours. I figured it was perfect because I will decorate before we leave and then when we get back we'll get our tree and put all our new ornaments on it!!!

Last Dec when my parents came to visit me at WDW, I did not think a thing about gloves bc I had lived there and adapted to the weather but the one night it was FREEZING!! I ended up buying a pair of their mickey gloves, similar to the ones from Target but just all black with mickey and they were $10. I had 1/2 off gift shops at the time so they were only $5 but still!! 3 bucks is nothing compared to 10!!!! It's always handy to have gloves and hope you don't have to use them!!!

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

Sure!

Thanks!! I the mickey!!

Oh no, I'm sorry to hear the Praxis didn't go as well as you had hoped. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you...I know what a pain those tests are. Just curious what types of questions they asked you. You mentioned studying terms, assessments, etc. My Praxis test was pretty much just like the ACT with math, reading, science, and social studies.

I like your shopping list. I have that Wendy/Tinkerbell Precious Moments you are talking about! hehe

In PA you have to take 2 Praxis II. One is content knowledge: here's the question pick the right answer and Curriculum Instruction and Assessment: Here is a situation and how would you solve it. It's hard to get an open ended question and try and decide what you..I mean the darn test would think is the answer even though I think it might be this answer..ya tough!

Perhaps you did better than you thought on the Praxis. I remember walking out with my head feeling as if it were mush.

Looks like you got a lot this year at Target. I'm hoping none of us need gloves for MVMCP. If it keeps up like it has, we'll need shorts!

After taking it 4x now and the class which is supposed to help you pass.. I felt the most unsure about passing..go figure!

Don't worry about your test. I bet you did better than u think


your must buy look great

Love target dollar section

Thanks! I'm debating if I want to hit up the travel section over Thanksgiving weekend or wait till the following weekend...

Ohhhhh! I just spent a bit of money at Target from their dollar section!!! LOL

Your days look great!

I hope you did better than you are expecting on your test!!!

Thanks..hope for the best

Don't worry about the test. Anytime I would take an exam, once it was over I didn't not speak or think about it. I would put it completely out of my head, because there was nothing I could do. Thank goodness it always turned out well, but if I got to thinking and second guessing I would make myself crazy. At least Disney will be a welcome and wonderful distraction!!!

I love the goodies that you've gotten. I have to look for those gloves!! I had them in the back of my head for just in case and I keep wavering. But I would rather have them just in case.

I love the Christmas tree!!! We will be going the day after we return to get ours. I figured it was perfect because I will decorate before we leave and then when we get back we'll get our tree and put all our new ornaments on it!!!

Thanks I found the gloves in the kids clothing section. They were on the end hanging on hooks with matching hats. They also had Hello Kitty and Princess ones too.

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

HAPPY FRIDAY DIS!!

Can you believe that my trip is only 19 days away


19 DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Starting on Sunday the following will happen:
School: Mon and Tues
Off work: Wed-Sunday for Thanksgiving
School: Mon-following Thurs
Disney: Thurs-Tues
School for 6 days and then off for Xmas!!!

Well, I didn't think I had much to share since I'm planning on doing my shopping and packing over Thanksgiving and the following weekend but...


THE BEST NEWS OF ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



WE GOT A RENTAL CAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dm called when I got out of work and said well your father has some news. I thought she meant someone put an offer on our house in PA and she says 'no ya right'..

Your Dd got a rental car for $197!!!!!!


We are getting it through Dollar Rental Cars. We typically use National or Alamo so this will be new for us. I checked the website and the cars look pretty nice.
Have any of you used Dollar before????????????

I'm psyched. Kinda sad that I won't get to see that movie on DME that everyone raves about but, I'll get over it!
Now we'll get into YC before 11 hopefully so I can jump in the pool speedy quick and head to bed. We won't have to play the bus game and wait and wait and wait. I'm thrilled!!!!

MORE NEWS:

I noticed online that my CM site was giving me a holiday discount 60% off for YC water view. It came to the same price as 1/2 off with standard view. I thought for a moment about calling to switch the ressie and add the QS DDP for the night and thought..ya right. Everything is set from DME for Dm and Dbro to the room. We'll deal with out a DDP this trip!!

Some sadish news...
I had not been on my CM site for about 5 days and got online only to see that WDW opened up ALL of the MVMCP discounts for CMs. Last year we only got a discount ($32) for parties in Nov. This year it's Nov and Dec. We could have saved $80 and now with having a rental car, I would have been able to drive to the store and get the tickets Sometimes it pays to wait I guess???????

Well that is it for now...

I'm spending the weekend in Cincinnati for a work Child Abuse Red Cross class tomorrow..6 hours of it

Hopefully the good news keeps coming!!!


STAY TUNED!

It occurred to me that I have not posted pics of when I worked at WDW so here are a few. My computer crashed twice already in a year so I lost a lot of my pictures from my College Program. I have them on CDs packed away but here are a few that survived via Facebook and cell phone:

The castle suite aka my Dis profile pic: (taken w/cell phone, not great quality)

Getting ready to start my day in BBB:

What FGIT can do before the park opens for the day!!!

How AK Education Presenters get around AK backstage:

Rachel and I holding up props from the Anteater

Meghan (former roomie) and I at AK..her shirt says Extinction is Forever..a motto of AK:

 

[creativeamanda]

Great news for you! You won't get to see the movie, but you will get to hear the CM say, "Welcome Home", which is easily my favorite phrase!

 

[Trentmom]

Score on the rental car


so close now

 

[nic100308]

You are too funny, I can't believe you actually thought about changing things again. But I think it's really sweet that you're just trying to make things perfect for your family vacation. It's going to be a wonderful trip, so not to worry.

So glad that you got your rental car. It will make things a lot easier on you. I let you know how that movie on ME is. We've never taken ME before, this will be our first time!!

Not that many more days of work, huh!?!?! How many at this point, just over a week? Not even?

Isn't it exciting??!? What are the dinner plans for Thanksgiving!?!?!

 

[LOVEMY3KIDDOS]

Oh!! Congrats on the rental car....makes things a bit easier I think, huh?! Great CM pix!!!! I hope you get to see a bunch of your former co-CM's!!!!

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

Great news for you! You won't get to see the movie, but you will get to hear the CM say, "Welcome Home", which is easily my favorite phrase!

Oh I'm super excited!!! Dm and Dbro will still use DME since their flight gets in so early so they will get to check out the DVD
I've researched Dollar and it didn't seem like the most loved rental car company but people always have their likes and dislikes. We did sign up for their Express Card to by pass the main line to check in

Score on the rental car


so close now

16 days!!!!

You are too funny, I can't believe you actually thought about changing things again. But I think it's really sweet that you're just trying to make things perfect for your family vacation. It's going to be a wonderful trip, so not to worry.

So glad that you got your rental car. It will make things a lot easier on you. I let you know how that movie on ME is. We've never taken ME before, this will be our first time!!

Not that many more days of work, huh!?!?! How many at this point, just over a week? Not even?

Isn't it exciting??!? What are the dinner plans for Thanksgiving!?!?!

I know, how dare I mess up the Resort Ressies again!!!

I'm super glad we got a rental car..all the other car sites quoted $300+. I'm hoping that doesn't mean that Dollar is a "poo" company and let us down! I read some pretty crazy reviews online, none of which were from MCO but we'll hope for the best. As long as we have a car that can fit 4 people and has AC or Heat depending on the weather and doesn't have a "Maintenance Required" light that is lit!!

Thanksgiving...we go to my Aunts/Uncles (mom oldest sis) in eastern OH and then on Black Friday my my mom, her 3 sis's, a cousin, and my self all going shopping north of Pittsburgh!! It's a tradition and my mom has created a monster of me...We will be sitting outside of Best Buy at 4am for nothing in particular..It's all a part of the experience!!

Oh!! Congrats on the rental car....makes things a bit easier I think, huh?! Great CM pix!!!! I hope you get to see a bunch of your former co-CM's!!!!

Thanks!! I can't wait to see some friends..esp. my one friend who is now an Elephant Keeper at AK!! I was very close with my head manager at BBB and she's very excited to see me!!

 

[nic100308]

I know what you mean!!! The Black Friday shopping was a tradition that my husbands family always had. When I started dating him I started to go, but I find in recent years it hasn't been as good as it used to be. Anyway, since a lot of the shopping will be done in Disney, I am going to decorate the house for Christmas on Black Friday. Then my mom and brother will be coming for Turkey Day part deux.

If I don't hear from you have a wonderful Turkey Day and good luck with the shopping!!! I hope you get some good finds!!!

 

[wdwgirl03]

Aww I love your CM pictures. Sometimes I wish I would've done the CP. Oh well.

You're getting close now! I'm so jealous.

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

I know what you mean!!! The Black Friday shopping was a tradition that my husbands family always had. When I started dating him I started to go, but I find in recent years it hasn't been as good as it used to be. Anyway, since a lot of the shopping will be done in Disney, I am going to decorate the house for Christmas on Black Friday. Then my mom and brother will be coming for Turkey Day part deux.

If I don't hear from you have a wonderful Turkey Day and good luck with the shopping!!! I hope you get some good finds!!!

Happy Thanksgiving to you!!!!!

I've been so caught up in the fact that I don't have to work at WDW this year for Thanksgiving and Black Friday that I've forgotten that I leave in 2 weeks for WDW!!!!!

I hope all the cooking and decorating go well!

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

Aww I love your CM pictures. Sometimes I wish I would've done the CP. Oh well.

You're getting close now! I'm so jealous.

I look at them too and I miss it, a ton. I miss always having something to do and somewhere to go with someone. To go from that to moving to a brand new city and working with people who have lived there their whole lives and are established is pretty rough! WDW and meeting people was sooo much easier. You had no choice though I guess!!

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!

~AND~

2 WEEKS UNTIL DISNEY!!!!!!!!

14 DAYS IF YOU COUNT TODAY
13 DAYS IF YOU DON'T!!!!

I just thought before all the craziness of today and tomorrow start that I would post some updates

I seem to have been caught up in the fact that I'm actually off work (and not working at WDW) for Thanksgiving and Black Friday that I've forgotten for a moment about the trip and that we leave in 2 weeks!!!

First of all, I hope everyone has safe travels today! I left Cincinnati on Tues night and man on man did we have traffic. A 4.5 hour ride turned into a 6+ hour ride mixed with a horrible migraine that I got. Thank god I Dd was driving because I might not have made it!

Yesterday...first day off work since Labor Day My co-teacher: S, txted me throughout the day with updates on the kids. Our teacher/kid ratio is 1:13 and we only had 11 kid yesterday, 2 left before nap and 6 were left when S left at 3 so I'm soooo glad I was able to be off! Not so glad when the dermatologist removed a mole from my right arm It's pretty sore even today so it looks like no heavy lifting for Black Friday!
My Dd and Dbro got our Xmas tree yesterday
(photos will come Sat or Sun) Dbro has to work at the local mom and pop restaurant ( like a Big Boy or Dennys) on Friday..our traditional day of getting the tree!!! It was still where we had tagged it and no family tried to steal it which is

Today is TURKEY DAY!!! We will head over to my Aunts & Uncles house in eastern, OH this afternoon. Before that, I might do some shopping at Kmart ( I need to look at their ad again) and Dd and Dbro are going to finish the outside lights and Xmas tree lights for our street's annual "Light up Night" tomorrow

Friday....BLACK FRIDAY!!! My mom has said she has turned me into a monster. Never in her life has she had to get up before 3am to wait outside a store in the freezing cold to buy things. Well, she started the tradition, I've perfected it Dbro want's some TV at Best Buy tomorrow so he is going at midnight tonight to wait in line. Assuming he survives until 3am when they give out the "golden tickets, " Dm and I will be there at 3 to relieve him since he works breakfast shift at his work and pick up the TV. Dd will meet us at 6 to switch cars and take the TV home.
Dd was interested in a Canon camera at Best Buy but went last night and was able to swing a deal and get last week's Ad price which was $100 more than the BF price but came with a better camera bag (backpack type), extra charger, and memory card so my Dd was the whole night!

My parent's also decided that for our "family" gift this year that we would get a WII so Dbro and I stayed up last night playing WII sports...my arm was killing after that..oops!! It's funny how our first "family" gift was a train that went around the tree and it has gone from that to a WII!


ADVICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I had posted on 2 other Dec TR about this but I figured I'd post on mine as well.

My family has chosen 2 girls this year for the Giving Tree Program. They are 11 and 12. My dad got them through work from his secretary who's grandson goes to the same school as these girls.
Makes you sick to your stomach the basic needs they need met that we don't think twice about:
1. Clothing, gym shoes, and dishes to eat off of.
Dd talked to his secretary and she said that these girls won't get anything else for Xmas besides what we get them so we really want to do it right for them. Typically we spend $100-$150 on a child but this year we're looking at $200 each child plus the dishes and a gift card to the local grocery store.

On the girl's wish list they want: Jewelry, Make-up, and Art Supplies. My cousin works for Lancome make-up so we have that covered. We got them diamond heart necklaces and earings and are going to get a bracelet and maybe a jewelry box.

Art supplies we are clueless on Assuming they don't have the basic markers, paper, scissors. We were thinking doing a small gift basket of that and then maybe some sort of art kit from Michaels...

What would you get for a girl that is 11 or 12????????

Well that is it for now, I'm off to prepare for the Macy's Parade!!


HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!

 

[Trentmom]

WII is awesome. Glad you are enjoying it

Have fun tomorrow...Hope you get everything you want

That is so nice you are helping out those two girls

 

[Elevationist]

Art Supplies: Well, since it sounds like they are beyond the construction paper and Elmer's glue age...

I am 99% you could set them up very nicely at Michaels. I would say look for the sets, like you suggested. Something like this one. Or this one. Or both. And a pad of good sturdy drawing paper. I bet they would be thrilled with that!

 

[AlohaPolynesian]

I'm soooo sorry I'm so behind!! I'm finally done with school though so I can catch up! That's so nice of you guys to do the giving tree. There used to be a mall by me that did it but it closed a few years ago and I haven't seen anything like that around since. Since I am a huge animal person I usually go to Target and buy a bunch of dog toys and food to take to the animal shelter I wish they could all have a loving family for Christmas!

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

WII is awesome. Glad you are enjoying it

Have fun tomorrow...Hope you get everything you want

That is so nice you are helping out those two girls

Thanks!!! It was a fun shopping day and we got a ton of stuff. My Dm said it was the most we have ever gotten on Blk Friday!!

Art Supplies: Well, since it sounds like they are beyond the construction paper and Elmer's glue age...

I am 99% you could set them up very nicely at Michaels. I would say look for the sets, like you suggested. Something like this one. Or this one. Or both. And a pad of good sturdy drawing paper. I bet they would be thrilled with that!

Thanks so much!! We got them an art set and a pad of drawing paper and a pad of paint paper along with 2 other kits.. Hannah Montana drawing fashion set and a set of bracelets that you can make.

I'm soooo sorry I'm so behind!! I'm finally done with school though so I can catch up! That's so nice of you guys to do the giving tree. There used to be a mall by me that did it but it closed a few years ago and I haven't seen anything like that around since. Since I am a huge animal person I usually go to Target and buy a bunch of dog toys and food to take to the animal shelter I wish they could all have a loving family for Christmas!

Doesn't it break your heart? I can't imagine not having money to even go to the dollar tree to get some gifts. You almost wish you could be there that morning when the girls open up the gifts to see their faces. We just hope that they enjoy what they get and I'm sure they will love everything!

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

11 DAYS!!!!

I was going to update tomorrow when it would be 10 days but oh well!!

I've been going camera crazy the last few days so I thought I would share. I put the WDW trip on hold for a few days to get into Xmas/Black Friday mode!!

I hope all of your Thanksgivings were good. Mine was filled with yummy food and 20 family members at my Aunt/Uncles house!

Here is a pic of our Xmas tree that we got on Wed:

Here is a pic of Thanksgiving Day after we got home (new outfit!):

Up close pic. My hair looked better in the day lol:

*My dad said that the gym had been paying off as I was able to get a smaller sweater size and the skirt that I bought was a tad loose. Can't tell in the pics but I haven't had my pic taken since May (aside from my license and we won't go there) so to me I still need a lot of work but it was nice to hear a comment like that from my Dd who always nags!!

After T.D., we made our game plan for Blk Friday! yes planner Megan in action!!
The Plan:
Dbro will wait outside of Best Buy or Sears for his $600 TV and GPS
Dm and I will meet Dbro at BB at 3:30 if he got a ticket for the items or I will meet Dbro at Sears at 3:30 for store opening at 4 to load the TV in the SUV.
Go home and get Dm and head down to Kohls and Target, meet up with my 3 aunts, cousin, and baby cousin Caden for breakfast at Bob Evans, and go to the mall...

Well...
Dbro drives the 30 mins to BB, there were 100 solid people in line at 11:30 so he leaves and goes to Sears which is 10 mins from our house and no one is there. He waits in his car till 1 and then gets out and was 2nd in line. I met him at 3:30 and we got the TV and the GPS!! After waiting 30+mins at package pick up, we loaded the TV and headed home!!

DM and I headed to Kohls and Target (same area as BB) and got some great things at Kohls for our Giving Tree girls and I got some games for my kids at school for $4 each!
We got some good priced DVDs at Target and was thankful they had the Express lines as Express lines!!!

We met Dm's sisters, my cousin, and baby caden at Bob Evans for breakfast and had a great time. Here is Caden after he ate!

We were kidding around saying he was already tired and the day didn't start yet! My Dd said my cousin was crazy for bringing him bc he is almost 6 mos old but you know what, he did not fuss at all the whole day!!! He was such a good baby and enjoyed looking around at everything!

My best deal of the day, Vera Bradley backpack on sale for $60 from $90!

I've decided to take this to WDW to use unless it rains a day and then I will use my drawstring bag.

I also got for my BEST BEST deal of the day, a COLUMBIA winter coat at JCP. It was $160 full price, 1/2 off, and then $15 off, Dm gave me a $25 gift card, and I paid on my debit $40 for the coat Sorry no pic! It's all brown with sea green!

After some mall shopping..and good deals at Disney Store, we were headed to Cheesecake Factory at the mall to find a 2 hour wait!!! Dm's sisters and cousin didn't want to wait .
On the way home Dm and I stopped at B&N, BB, and Toys R US and ended our 12 hour shopping day and were home by 7pm!

Today Dm and I went for much needed pedicures! After that we did some more shopping at our local Target and Walmart. I HIT THE TARGET TRAVEL SECTION!!!!!! When we got home I began to pack!

I got this shirt on sale for $10 at Disney Store in the mall to wear with jeans:

I got this shirt for $5 at Old Navy to wear with black gauchos pants for MVMCP or CLP

My bags that I'll be taking for sure!

To use for the parks if it would rain. My stuff would be in ziplock bags:

My "airplane bag" I thought about just taking my Vera Backpack but I want to take my binder and passporter and they for sure won't fit!

My clothes, toiletry bag, etc.

The only bag I didn't take a pic of was my red Vera large duffel bag which will be my 2nd Carry On. It will have my shoes in it and maybe my light columbia coat but mostly for gifts/souvenirs that I bring back.

Toiletry bag:

Filled and ready to go!!

I was even able to fit all my make-up in that bag! I didn't want to put the extra money into buying some make-up but I don't want to worry about carry-on liquids and figured I can keep the extra make-up at home in PA and won't worry about taking it from Ohio all the time! We also got 2 forms of deterg. After last Xmas trip and my food poisoning and needing to wash clothes at AKL, we have our own deterg now just in case!


Well that is it for now!!

It will be a busy week at school. It is my lesson week on Kwanzaa, we have a staff meeting Tues, First Aid training on wed (i think), and I head home to PA again on Fri to see the Rockettes with my Dm on Saturday!! My work party is on Sun afternoon so I won't have time to sit around Sunday to pack for WDW so it will be done Sat!!

Stay tuned!!!


*Packing Pics
*Left to do
*Order the Xmas cake or not???

 

[Trentmom]

Great tree

Sounds like you got a ton of great deals Black Friday

Way to go on buying smaller clothes


Cute shirts and I love all your bags


Have fun seeing the Rockettes. We saw them in April about 7 or 8 years ago and it was great. I would love to see the Christmas show