*~Trading Snow & Slush For Pixie Dust~* Jan PTR - 1/17 - Photo Challenge Complete!

[Cin]

Merry Christmas! Can you believe we are only a month away from Disneyworld now?!!!

 

[Colleen27]

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!

Our celebrations are always pretty low-key and relaxing. We had an early dinner on Christmas eve at my inlaws, then my mom & brother came out to spend the night at our house and be here for brunch on Christmas morning.

My MIL gave all the kids Slinkies... Heavy plastic for the younger kids and the old-fashioned metal ones for the olders. It was a real hit with Boo!

So was the Tigger pillow pet that I stumbled over - literally! the box was out in an aisle and I didn't see it - and couldn't resist buying.

Stitch got many, many rolls of duct tape in all sorts of colors and prints.

And he decided this was the year to pass his Lego obsession on to his little sister with a set he picked out special to be her first.

And DH decided to skip the 'buying presents just to have her play with the box' routine and go straight for buying her a giant box. She promptly started adding hidden Mickeys to the design.

The whole bunch of them in their Christmas PJs. I made the girls' to match but Stitch got store-bought, Family Guy Star Wars design. Notice the spiffy duct tape dynamite.

Boo's "iPad" was a hit, especially since Santa brought a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse game too!

Pocahontas is growing up all together too fast. She threw on her new roller blades, put her iPod in her purse, and hooked up her new headphones and decided to go out skating on Christmas day! We had beautiful weather for it, in the 40s, sunny, and no snow in sight.

Around our house Christmas is mostly about the kids, but DH still got me a couple of gifts that I'd really been wanting. First was a pre-lit tree for my dining room. This will eventually be Victorian-themed with some not-so-hidden Mickeys (from the Disney Parks Victorian Christmas line), but for now it is sporting a cheap set of red & gold bulbs from Kmart.

I don't have a pic of my big gift but it is something I was so excited to get... A new sewing machine! I've been working with a very cheap Brother machine from Walmart and it has been acting up of late, so DH went out and bought the Janome I'd been eyeing. It is like going from a Pinto to a Porsche, I kid you not! So much smoother, so much quieter, so much easier to work with. And just in time to start checking things off the to-do list for our trip!

Speaking of that list, I'm going to give myself a day or two for post-Christmas clean up and then I'm going to attack it head on.

I've got the shopping parts mostly done - the air mattress for Stitch is already in the suitcase, along with the EL wire for Boo's stroller (I don't want to put that on until we arrive because of how rough the gate checking process can be). I ordered the Birbaum's For Kids edition for Pocahontas, loaded the newest edition of the Hidden Mickeys Guide to her iPod, and got myself The Hidden Magic of Walt Disney World.

I also found the coolest thing at the dollar store in the next town over that I bought for Boo's diaper/entertainment bag - triangular crayons and colored pencils! No more chasing roly-poly pencils off of not-quite-level tables! So between that, her busy book, and the new Little Golden Books that I added to my B&N order to get free shipping I think we're set for things to keep her busy during "waiting" times before shows and at restaurants.

I'm still working on Boo's autograph book, but I found a perfect Epcot passport on the Creative DISigns board that I'm using as-is for Pocahontas so that one is already saved and ready to order. I'd like to get those ordered this week because I've got a Snapfish code for a discount on photobooks, and their spiral bound book worked perfectly for autographs on the last trip.

I did decide to go digital for the details of our plans, park maps, and the snack sticky list... I'll load that all on Pocahontas iPod rather than worrying about carrying paper copies.

Once that's done it'll just be the outfits left to finish.

29 days to go. Time to get sewing!

 

[Colleen27]

Well, I got one thing checked off the to-do list yesterday - the autograph purse for Pocahontas. It was probably the most challenging sewing project on the list, if only because I didn't find any one pattern that had all the features I wanted so I had to improvise.

It doesn't look like much when it is closed because I left the front and back both blank white for autographs.

But the interior was designed as an all-purpose park bag. The zipper pocket is sized for her iPod Touch and has a buttonhole to run the headphone cord through so that she can listen to music with the iPod zipped safely away. The slip-in pocket edged in yellow is just the right size for her Epcot passport and the red & black fabric markers I bought for the characters to sign the bag. The big pocket holds her Birnbaum's for Kids and has enough room left over for her lanyard if she gets tired of wearing it.

All in all I'm pretty pleased with it. I should have waited a day until my B&N order arrived to make it because the Birnbaums is a tight fit. I went by the dimensions on some website and they weren't exactly accurate! But she'll only be carrying the book in it for one week; she'll be carrying it to school and such much longer, and I'm really happy with the way the more important parts like the iPod pocket came out.

 

[OziJo]

Looks like you had a lovely Christmas!

That all purpose bag is fantastic. I'll have 3. Have 'em done for me and shipped to Oz before we leave in 6 Days please.

But really it's terrific and we could do with something like that for the girls to carry their bits in. My mum bought them all small handbags that can be slung across their shoulders but they are no way as neat as your special design.

 

[Colleen27]

Looks like you had a lovely Christmas!

That all purpose bag is fantastic. I'll have 3. Have 'em done for me and shipped to Oz before we leave in 6 Days please.

But really it's terrific and we could do with something like that for the girls to carry their bits in. My mum bought them all small handbags that can be slung across their shoulders but they are no way as neat as your special design.

Thank you.

You're going just a little too soon to get copies for your girls... After our trip I'm planning on getting my Etsy store up and running and that bag will definitely be in the product line-up! I'm working on a BIG anniversary surprise for DH and one of my funding strategies is to actually start selling online/year-round instead of just at Christmas craft shows for extra holiday cash.

 

[Colleen27]

Day 17 - A picture of your favorite Disney character.

Not an easy choice, but when I really thought about it one did stand out from the many that I like. Dory, from Finding Nemo. I love her "just keep swimming" attitude!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

LOVE Dory! I petsit for people that have a HUGE saltwater tank and they have a Dory fish. Disney is GENIUS b/c they really did make the characters based on how those types of fish act. The Dory fish my clients have is totally neurotic and fun, it's too cute! They have clown fish too and they act really cautious like Marlin. (I know, you didn't ask and here I am rambling! sorry!)

 

[ash-n-brensmom]

Thank you.

You're going just a little too soon to get copies for your girls... After our trip I'm planning on getting my Etsy store up and running and that bag will definitely be in the product line-up! I'm working on a BIG anniversary surprise for DH and one of my funding strategies is to actually start selling online/year-round instead of just at Christmas craft shows for extra holiday cash.

WOW!! You have been busy! Love all the stuff you make....so make sure you let us know when you have your etsy store front ready!! Glad you had a good christmas...and well done to your DH for that sewing machine!

 

[lledman]

Love the autograph purse - what a wonderful idea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[aboveH20]

Well, I got one thing checked off the to-do list yesterday - the autograph purse for Pocahontas. It was probably the most challenging sewing project on the list, if only because I didn't find any one pattern that had all the features I wanted so I had to improvise.

It doesn't look like much when it is closed because I left the front and back both blank white for autographs.

But the interior was designed as an all-purpose park bag. The zipper pocket is sized for her iPod Touch and has a buttonhole to run the headphone cord through so that she can listen to music with the iPod zipped safely away. The slip-in pocket edged in yellow is just the right size for her Epcot passport and the red & black fabric markers I bought for the characters to sign the bag. The big pocket holds her Birnbaum's for Kids and has enough room left over for her lanyard if she gets tired of wearing it.

All in all I'm pretty pleased with it. I should have waited a day until my B&N order arrived to make it because the Birnbaums is a tight fit. I went by the dimensions on some website and they weren't exactly accurate! But she'll only be carrying the book in it for one week; she'll be carrying it to school and such much longer, and I'm really happy with the way the more important parts like the iPod pocket came out.

Every time I see the title of your pre-trip report I feel as though I should offer to send you some more snow you can trade, but we're still pretty brown and dry in upstate New York.

I love your bag -- can never go wrong with Minnie dots in my book --- and how CLEVER to have the spot for autographs. Great job.

 

[Colleen27]

LOVE Dory! I petsit for people that have a HUGE saltwater tank and they have a Dory fish. Disney is GENIUS b/c they really did make the characters based on how those types of fish act. The Dory fish my clients have is totally neurotic and fun, it's too cute! They have clown fish too and they act really cautious like Marlin. (I know, you didn't ask and here I am rambling! sorry!)

I don't mind. Ken has wanted a saltwater tank for a long time, but right now pets just aren't a good fit for our habits. I love our old lab, she's well trained and old enough to be completely mellow about whatever we do, but finding someone to watch her when we're traveling is quite enough. I don't want to have to find someone to check in on the fish too!

WOW!! You have been busy! Love all the stuff you make....so make sure you let us know when you have your etsy store front ready!! Glad you had a good christmas...and well done to your DH for that sewing machine!

I will. The store name will make it to my sig at some point, and I'm sure into my trip report as well.

Love the autograph purse - what a wonderful idea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks! Credit for the idea goes to Pocahontas. She didn't want an autograph book this time and in talking about other ideas I'd seen - quilts, hats, tees - she suggested a purse/bag. She's kind of in a purse phase at the moment; she's stolen two of mine that I seldom use, and my park purse, and now has 2 new ones of her own as well!

Every time I see the title of your pre-trip report I feel as though I should offer to send you some more snow you can trade, but we're still pretty brown and dry in upstate New York.

I love your bag -- can never go wrong with Minnie dots in my book --- and how CLEVER to have the spot for autographs. Great job.

No real snow here either yet. We've had a couple of dustings but then it warms up a bit and we've got lots of mud. I just hope it isn't holding off until our trip. I'm a nervous enough flyer in good weather!!

I totally horde that Minnie dot fabric! There's only one place around where I can get it, about 25 miles from home, so when I go I buy the whole bolt. So if you notice that it is a recurring theme in the girls' outfits that's why !

 

[aboveH20]

I totally horde that Minnie dot fabric! There's only one place around where I can get it, about 25 miles from home, so when I go I buy the whole bolt. So if you notice that it is a recurring theme in the girls' outfits that's why !

+

 

[Colleen27]

Day 18 - A picture of your favorite guilty Disney pleasure.

Without a doubt, the food! Not any one dish but all of it, from the chocolate covered strawberry from the Main Street Confectionery and the carrot cake cookie at Writers' Stop to California Grill's wonderful sushi and the incredible tuna oscar at Kona Cafe.

 

[Colleen27]

So with 3 weeks left to go and a long to-do list stretching in front of me, what am I doing? Changing ADRs of course!

I may come to regret this if the rumors of the upcoming closure/rehab and new theme/menu have any credibility but I cancelled California Grill. Stitch initially said he wanted it for his birthday dinner so I was willing to pay OOP, but then he made a couple of other comments that changed my mind. First he's been bugging me about why I didn't book Kona, which is where he had his 10th birthday dinner and which has long been a favorite of his that only improved with the addition of the sushi bar. And second, he wanted to know if this time we might finally make it to Beaches & Cream. We tried twice when we stayed at the Beach Club but they don't take ADRs and in the August heat there was always an hour or more wait for a table. I'm hoping in January it'll be in somewhat lower demand.

So I've been stalking the site looking for a Kona ADR but it seems to be the new hot ticket and nothing was available. Getting another Ohana dinner would be easier! But yesterday an opening popped up on the night of our California Grill ADR so I made the switch.

That brings us back to the right number of ADRs for DDP credits, so our OOP night will be the night I haven't planned anything anyway - the night we're planning on being at Studios for evening EMH. So Beaches & Cream would be a perfect fit! I haven't really been able to get excited about going there on the dining plan because I know none of us would have room to really enjoy dessert after an appetizer & entree, but since we'll be OOP that night we'll share meals to save room for the ice cream.

 

[Colleen27]

Day 19 - A picture of something in the park that deserves more attention.

I'm cheating a little here because my answer isn't A something, it is MANY somethings and thus requires more than one picture to capture.

So many people at WDW seem to be intent on rushing from ride to ride and in doing so they miss one of the things that really sets Disney apart from any other amusement park or destination in the world - the incredible attention to detail in every inch of the parks.

 

[OziJo]

Right on about the attention to detail . It's one of the main reasons we loved Disneyland and is why we are willing to trek even further for Disney World. Thanks for the reminder. I am going to make an effort to snap some photos of the little things.

 

[Colleen27]

Well, here I sit waiting for the big announcement. DISing from a iPod after um... about half a bottle of Rosa Regale is not the easiest thing to accomplish BTW! So forgive me if the typos run a bit rampant.

I checked one big thing off of the to-do list today - I ordered an Epcot passport for Pocahontas and an autograph book for Boo from Snapfish. I also started packing a little - suitcase #1 has replaced the Christmas tree on my dining room sideboard and I'm tossing things in there as I come to them.

In just about 75 minutes I'll be able to say I'm going to Disney THIS MONTH! The weather forecast looks like winter should be showing up for real next week, no more of this 40ish in-between stuff, so our trip is coming just at the right time.

Happy New Year everyone!!

 

[Colleen27]

Day 20 - The best way to beat the heat at Disney.

Two words: Stormalong Bay. We were crazy enough to do Disney in August one year, and we spent half the trip in that amazing pool!

 

[Colleen27]

Day 21 - The best place to take a picture at Disney.

There are a lot of them, but this one has to be my personal favorite - the top of Expedition Everest!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

LOVE taking pictures on EE!!!

LOVE your detail shots! I, too, love taking pictures of the details. I took 3000 pictures last trip and I STILL feel like I missed certain details. It's exactly why I love WDW and why I'm taking a solo/girls trip with the plans to take my time and notice all those tiny little things, in 2013!