VWL Groupies...yes, we love the Lodge, a lot!!

[blossomz]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY INK!!!

 

[MiaSRN62]

Good job JT, thank you for rounding us up (we can be like cats!). I bolded you just in case anyone missed your post.

WOW....this sounds FUN !!!! Wish I could be there !!! Can't wait to hear all about it---and thanks Muush....I had missed the post.

 

[MiaSRN62]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY INK !!!​

 

[Granny]

Happy Birthday Inkmahm!!!

I hope all is well with you and dynaguy.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

That's what I keep hearing - Layers, layers, layers! I bought a new lightweight rain jacket and some tall boots and just plan on layering a bunch of thin, long sleved tops underneath. I keep reading not to wear jeans, but I pretty much live in them - so I guess I'll suffer through it if they get wet. Luckily we are sailing with NCL this time and it's freestyle, so it should be more casual so I won't have to pack as much 'dress' clothes.

And yesssss!!! I'm so excited I finally get to really use my new camera to take in the amazing scenery. I am not smart or patient enough for a full on DSLR, so I bought an in between model. I got a Nikon P510, and I CAN'T WAIT to see how my pictures turn out! I got a back up battery, and a back up memory card and I am ready to go!!

Were were on the Norwegian Pearl last May for our Alaskan cruise. Such a great trip!! I think you have it down for packing - layers! And don't be afraid of jeans. At least I hope you're not going to get soaking wet! I had both a winter shell jacket and just a straight rain shell along and other layers for underneath.

I grew up in the 70s with the Ronco Rhinestone and Stud Setter! Bling-a-ding-ding!

The memory of this just made me laugh!


Happy Birthday Inkmahm!

 

[rusafee1183]

Hope the weigh in goes well today.

Yep a little bling goes along way.

Wow just 80 days out. Our Disney experience says 215 days.



My downside is having motivation to work out. I have some physical limitations that often will sabotage me from working out consistently, plus doubled with I really don't like it any way makes it even harder to do. I'm looking for work out clothes later today I'm not sure what even to look for. I used to use Mickey Tshirt & shorts, but I seem to stick out like a sore thumb. Any Suggestions on what to look for?

Zumba would probably throw my back out, but it sounds like a great plan for you!!

I have found that my favorite workout clothes are really high waisted (so I don't have to keep tugging at them), tighter capri's. I found really nice ones at WalMart for $11.95 I want to say, and then I just use old t-shirts. I wish I could go sleeveless, but I just don't feel comfortable in tank tops when throwing my arms up in the air

Have you ever tried Zumba? It really is for everyone!! I have girls that are in college, people that are skinny as rails, people who are overweight,women in their golden years in my classes and there were even 2 men that took my class as part of their rehab! If you have never tried it, and have bad knees or other injuries that you think would inhibit your movement - I would try a "Zumba Gold" class or DVD first, it's a lot less impact than most other movements - but even still, all Zumba moves can be modified to your level. I really love it, and it doesn't feel like a workout... it's just fun!

Sharon -- I think you should work out in a full Tinkerbell outfit!!!!

Rusafee -- yes, getting back on track is tough. But just think, if you start TODAY, then a week from now, you can look back and say "I'm glad I started a week ago. Now I'm back on board!" And Disney requires stamina! (Is that motivation to exercise a bit?) I have bad feet and varicose veins. If I could lose a few more pounds, I think my feet and legs would thank me!

It's all about being healthy. The older I get, the more I understand how important that is. After 40, stuff just starts falling apart!

Well, off to make banana bread for breakfast for the kids this week. We are having a stormy day here today! Makes me want to make a pot of coffee and curl up with my Unofficial Guide to Disney World!

I am resisting the urge to go online there and micromanage my Touring Plans!

I just ordered a gazillion teeshirts online, so we all have matching tees for the week (without doing laundry.) When we were there last time, the matching shirts made it easy to spot each other in a crowd. We did neon colors and it was SUPER easy to spot the kids that way. Of course, THIS year, neon is "back" so there will probably be lots of other folks wearing it too. That's ok -- I like it. It takes me back to high school! Wham! (The band.) And "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go!"

Try not to sing it in your head! I dare you!

Thanks for that! I'll be walking around all morning with that song in my head now...

And thanks for the motivation! I went to spinning last night, and woke up this morning and did my Kinect workout. The diet will take some time, but I feel a little better already

Mmmmm banana bread, sounds wonderful. Your kids are lucky!!

Loving all of the tips on how to spend a relaxing non park day in the VWL area. I really want to do something like that, make it a pool day and explore the resorts along the monorail. We've watched Wishes from the beach at Poly but it was so far away. My SIL told me she drove the car over to the Contemporary parking lot and they saw a great show. Since we don't have a car, is there a viewing area you can recommend at CR? That's assuming the boats are still running that late, need to figure out the schedule for those again.

Planning to stock up on Disney gift cards this month. Our Kroger grocery store has a special where you get 4x fuel points when you buy gift cards. Add that to the 6% cash back my credit card gives at grocery stores and I'm looking at a 20% savings on the gift cards! Since I need $700 worth that's a decent chunk of change. Going to scope out Kroger after work and make sure they have plenty in stock!

I've been such a nerd lately signing up for cash back credit cards (always paid in full each month though!). So far I get 6% back on groceries, 5% back on gas and 2% back on everything else (of course that's across 3 cards, but I'm willing to juggle if it means $$$). I told you, Nerd!!!

See what Disney does to me

Hope everyone is doing well.

Disney does that to me too! I go to our local grocery store when they have 2x fuel perks and buy all the G.C's for our trips, AND use my Disney Chase card to get the rewards that way too.

I'm only a little bit crazy about it, but it's how we get to keep going back!

Luvvwl has found that planning meals, then shopping for those planned meals, is an important key for her. She will set up for the week what she wants to eat (with my help since I usually eat those meals, too). Some of those meals can be made ahead of time, so if we're tired after work, they're ready to go. We widely opt for low-calorie, low carb versions of our favorite meals. For example, we use spaghetti squash instead of pasta with our homemade marinara sauce. Planning smartly is a fairly easy way of monitoring one's intake. From a workout perspective, varying your routine will work wonders. I've been a runner/biker/hiker for a long time, and I can tell you that alternating what you do and how long you do it will keep you more engaged and keep the body well-toned. Once a workout becomes routine, your body adapts. Varying the workouts will help keep your body from "learning" too much. Good luck!

We love spaghetti squash as a substitute for pasta! That was one of the things that fell by the wayside when I started slacking. I need to start doing some more research and finding creative recipes again. I get bored so easily, and when I get bored I get lazy and that's when I order chinese food

OK, its official, Sat. Apr 13 at 3pm, Greensboro,NC at McCouls Irish Pub(dont let the pub part scare you, food is amazing here and main draw) and so far we have committed...eliza61(yes, she is coming all the way from NJ!!)sleepydog25 and luvvwl, Muushka and her DH, wfc4life and sechem32, jimmytammy, TammyNC and Capt.D

So, just to put it out there, we still have room for more. If anyone else thinks they can attend, you are more than welcome. I am calling end of this week just to put our name on a list for enough room. If you think you can attend, please reply here or PM me by Friday the 22nd.

Awww! That sounds really fun! It would be a 7 hour drive for us, right before our cruise or else we would come to meet everyone Maybe next time!!

Were were on the Norwegian Pearl last May for our Alaskan cruise. Such a great trip!! I think you have it down for packing - layers! And don't be afraid of jeans. At least I hope you're not going to get soaking wet! I had both a winter shell jacket and just a straight rain shell along and other layers for underneath.



The memory of this just made me laugh!


Happy Birthday Inkmahm!

How did you like the Pearl? And how wwas going in May? I know it's technically the very beginning of the season, so I know that we probably won't see bears but I am hoping for some decent willife spottings.

And HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY INKMAHM!

 

[bagsmom]

By the way, we'll be in WDW June 7 through 15. Anyone else?

I'm starting to get a little crazy -- wanting to plan and pack.

 

[Muushka]

By the way, we'll be in WDW June 7 through 15. Anyone else?

I'm starting to get a little crazy -- wanting to plan and pack.

Yuppers, we will be there also. We are staying off site
(we gave all of our points to my nephew for the year!). Fingers crossed for snagging a week at Bonnet Creek.

Mmmmm banana bread, sounds wonderful. Your kids are lucky!!

Loving all of the tips on how to spend a relaxing non park day in the VWL area. I really want to do something like that, make it a pool day and explore the resorts along the monorail. We've watched Wishes from the beach at Poly but it was so far away. My SIL told me she drove the car over to the Contemporary parking lot and they saw a great show. Since we don't have a car, is there a viewing area you can recommend at CR? That's assuming the boats are still running that late, need to figure out the schedule for those again.

Planning to stock up on Disney gift cards this month. Our Kroger grocery store has a special where you get 4x fuel points when you buy gift cards. Add that to the 6% cash back my credit card gives at grocery stores and I'm looking at a 20% savings on the gift cards! Since I need $700 worth that's a decent chunk of change. Going to scope out Kroger after work and make sure they have plenty in stock!

I've been such a nerd lately signing up for cash back credit cards (always paid in full each month though!). So far I get 6% back on groceries, 5% back on gas and 2% back on everything else (of course that's across 3 cards, but I'm willing to juggle if it means $$$). I told you, Nerd!!!

See what Disney does to me

Hope everyone is doing well.

Whoa, that is some serious savings! Can you tell me what CC gives 6% at grocery? Is it a short time deal? Thanks!

 

[staceyeid]

Whoa, that is some serious savings! Can you tell me what CC gives 6% at grocery? Is it a short time deal? Thanks!

Sure. I have the American Express Blue Cash Preferred. It is always 6% on groceries, not a rotating category like some of the other cards. It is capped at your first $6,000 spent on groceries, but for us we should be fine with that limit.

You also get 3% back on gas (no lilmit) and select department stores (the official list is hard to come by, I think it's places like JC Penney, Nordstrom, Dillards, etc.)

There is an annual fee but it's waived the first year and you get $150 cash back for spending a certain amount in the first few months (just received my $150 and I've had the card less than a month).

They have a card with no annual fee but it's only 3% on groceries. We do spend quite a bit so will come very close to the $6,000 cap, so even with the annual fee the 6% card is worth it for us.

The card is a bit picky on what counts as a grocery store though. And again, finding an official list is hard. I've confirmed places like Trader Joes, Whole Foods and Kroger definitely count as grocery. Walmart does not. Sams and Costco do not. Meijer is up in the air, still waiting for my statement to see what they count Meijer as. We shop primarily at Whole Foods so it's not a real issue for me.

You can search for American Express Blue Cash Preferred $150 bonus so that when you apply you make sure to get the bonus cash.

Here is one link that does list the bonus (when I went directly to American Express they seem to have removed the bonus offer):
http://www.dailymarkets.com/creditcards/blue-cash-preferred-card/ (follow the link in the article)

I also have other cards that give you 5% on gas and 2% back on everything else. If anyone is intersted I can pass along the links (I receive no referral bonus or anything from these links).

 

[twokats]

And HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY INKMAHM!

You are not late wishing her Happy Birthday!!! It is actually today, we are bad about starting the day before so that it is there for the person on the actual day. . . . !

 

[Corinne]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY INK!

 

[Corinne]

I had a snow day today (yes, it is March!!) but it gave me some time to try and catch up with all the activity! I didn't even realize I was posting on a new thread when I wished Ink a happy birthday! LOL

Granny~Thanks for posting the photos of your mini meets!

Maria~Our kids were engaged around the same time and looks like they will be getting married around the same time (well, our son's wedding will be in the summer of 2014) They thought about a WDW destination wedding for a brief moment, but decided against it (darn!) I look forward to hearing your plans!

 

[rusafee1183]

You are not late wishing her Happy Birthday!!! It is actually today, we are bad about starting the day before so that it is there for the person on the actual day. . . . !

Ahh, good to know. I guess I could have just looked at the first page for birthdays and seen that! I forgot that they were listed there!!

 

[Muushka]

Sure. I have the American Express Blue Cash Preferred. It is always 6% on groceries, not a rotating category like some of the other cards. It is capped at your first $6,000 spent on groceries, but for us we should be fine with that limit.

You also get 3% back on gas (no lilmit) and select department stores (the official list is hard to come by, I think it's places like JC Penney, Nordstrom, Dillards, etc.)

There is an annual fee but it's waived the first year and you get $150 cash back for spending a certain amount in the first few months (just received my $150 and I've had the card less than a month).

They have a card with no annual fee but it's only 3% on groceries. We do spend quite a bit so will come very close to the $6,000 cap, so even with the annual fee the 6% card is worth it for us.

The card is a bit picky on what counts as a grocery store though. And again, finding an official list is hard. I've confirmed places like Trader Joes, Whole Foods and Kroger definitely count as grocery. Walmart does not. Sams and Costco do not. Meijer is up in the air, still waiting for my statement to see what they count Meijer as. We shop primarily at Whole Foods so it's not a real issue for me.

You can search for American Express Blue Cash Preferred $150 bonus so that when you apply you make sure to get the bonus cash.

Here is one link that does list the bonus (when I went directly to American Express they seem to have removed the bonus offer):
http://www.dailymarkets.com/creditcards/blue-cash-preferred-card/ (follow the link in the article)

I also have other cards that give you 5% on gas and 2% back on everything else. If anyone is intersted I can pass along the links (I receive no referral bonus or anything from these links).

Wow, lots of great info, thank you for letting me know

I have my fingers crossed that Sams Club will have more in stock when I go, but if not I may look into your deals. Thanks!

 

[staceyeid]

Wow, lots of great info, thank you for letting me know

I have my fingers crossed that Sams Club will have more in stock when I go, but if not I may look into your deals. Thanks!

I called our local Sam's and while they do have the Disney cards they are only discounted to $48.89 or something like that. Your area has a much better deal. The fuel points and credit card cash back were better for me at the grocery store.

Just got done buying $700 worth. Now have to call back and update our Spirit of Aloha reservations to use the gift cards.

 

[DiznyDi]

Happy Birthday Inkmahm!
DDad and I just stopping by to wish you the happiest of birthdays! Enjoy your special day.

 

[horselover]

Happy Birthday Inkmahm!

 

[Dizny Dad]

Hey, let me jump in on this . . .

Happy Birthday Inkmahm!

 

[MiaSRN62]

Happy Spring Day Groupies !!!! ​

 

[MiaSRN62]

I had a snow day today (yes, it is March!!) but it gave me some time to try and catch up with all the activity! I didn't even realize I was posting on a new thread when I wished Ink a happy birthday! LOL

Granny~Thanks for posting the photos of your mini meets!

Maria~Our kids were engaged around the same time and looks like they will be getting married around the same time (well, our son's wedding will be in the summer of 2014) They thought about a WDW destination wedding for a brief moment, but decided against it (darn!) I look forward to hearing your plans!

Hi Corrine !
We had snow Saturday and Monday ! Not more than an inch each time but still ??!!!

And congrats to your son and future dil as well ! Planning a wedding is a lot of work ! They have not 100% decided on WDW. It is between Disney and the FL Aquarium in Tampa. I almost felt like my hubby and I were putting a little too much pressure for them to choose Disney....so we backed waaay off. We want it to be their decision. We liked what Disney had to offer as far as a wedding package and venue more than the Aquarium, but the Aquarium's price is about $4,000--$5,000 less for what we are looking at. But there are a lot of details in the packages that don't compare so it's not exactly apples to apples.
My daughter and her fiance are going to let us know what they decided in about 2-3 weeks. Hubby and I paid for them to have a professional photo shoot in WDW on March 6. We are very excited to see the photos ! It was a delayed engagement gift to them. Since they live in FL it was just too hard to have any kind of engagement party/celebration. I'll be sure to let you all know here. I'm on pins and needles. Even with the higher price tag, we're hoping Disney !