Wait for it...Weight for it...June 2009 WL **PACKING**

[littleboss]

Hi Rabbitt! Just joining and all caught up. I just wanted to say thank pic with your son and Belle is too cute w/lipstick on cheeck and all.

 

[jewels1916]

Subbing! Good luck with the weight loss goal, Rabbit! I am working on it too...counting calories, not eating out, and hitting up the gym. I gave up Dr. Pepper, which is probably my big food weakness. My December trip is my big reward, although I have two weddings that I am in in 2009 that I am wanting to look better for (I am seriously becoming Katherine Heigl from 27 Dresses with all the Bmaid dresses I have in my closet...).

Anyway, I am here, and cheering you on to your goal!

 

[WDWRocksMySocks]

You guys looked great at the P&PP! That pic of DH is great. Although, I really love the pic of DS w/ the lipstick on his cheek - too cute! It looks like you guys had such a blast.

 

[TxRabbit]

Hi Rabbitt! Just joining and all caught up. I just wanted to say thank pic with your son and Belle is too cute w/lipstick on cheeck and all.

Thank you. I think he's adorable, but I am TOTALLY biased of course. DS loved that lipstick. We ran into Push (the talking trash can) later on that day. He noticed the lip prints and asked which princess had kissed him? DS was so proud to say, "Snow White. TWICE!" Push said, "OOOOOOOOOoooo, I'm soooooooo jealous!" DS wouldn't wash his face that night. We were leaving the next day. At the airport he was telling everyone who would listen about his kisses.

Subbing! Good luck with the weight loss goal, Rabbit! I am working on it too...counting calories, not eating out, and hitting up the gym. I gave up Dr. Pepper, which is probably my big food weakness. My December trip is my big reward, although I have two weddings that I am in in 2009 that I am wanting to look better for (I am seriously becoming Katherine Heigl from 27 Dresses with all the Bmaid dresses I have in my closet...).

Anyway, I am here, and cheering you on to your goal!

Thank you, thank you, thank you! Way to go counting calories, not eating out, and hitting the gym! I'm not counting calories quite yet. Just eating in is working for me. Next month I'm thinking.

I totally relate to quitting Dr. Pepper, except mine was Diet Coke. It is really difficult to do. I would drink A LOT of Diet Coke a day. Here's something that might help. There is a chemical in caramel colored soda. A phosphate of some sort, I think. Anyway. It prohibits your body from being able to absorb calcium. So even if calcium is in your diet or your multivitamin, that chemical blocks it and it just passes right out again. So soda is especially horrible for women to drink. Good job quitting. I know the difficulty. Soda is EVERYWHERE. I drink iced tea, but it can be hard to find good iced tea. I scoped out the good places at WDW on purpose before our last trip. I quit soda April 1, 2007. You can do it.

You guys looked great at the P&PP! That pic of DH is great. Although, I really love the pic of DS w/ the lipstick on his cheek - too cute! It looks like you guys had such a blast.

P&PP WAS a blast. I saw pics on your TR of how dressed up you were when you went. We fully dressed up too. Who CAN resist getting to go to MK in full costume? We managed to meet Cap'n Jack too. The wait time was for so long the entire party. So we decided to high tail it over there immediately after the fireworks show. It was a good plan. The photopass photographer took a pic with our camera too. I was so happy to see that he took a picture of us being social too.

Up next, another TS we HAVE to do...

 

[TxRabbit]

OK. So I read about a Scotch Flight on a TR. DH and I aren't big time drinkers any more. We left that behind in college. However, we do enjoy good beer (mostly microbrews and darker beers) and good wine. Donna, this makes me think of London Fuller's Porter.

Drinking alcohol has been banned as part of our first 30 day challenge, with two preplanned exceptions:

1.DSs birthday, where we took him to our first professional NBA game. You have to enjoy an icy cold beer with sports! And I have to tell you. It tasted SO GOOD. But we resisted picking up more on the way home.

2. The Super Bowl. Of course! Hello?

DHs bday is January 1. So on New Year's Eve we were getting our libation for the weekend. We weren't exactly having a Fat Tuesday party, but we were having a hurrah before fasting alcohol. The line was long. We were waiting in the aisle with all the scotch. DH makes a comment about really wanting to try different scotchs. Could he tell the difference? Etc etc. It would be expensive to do, etc etc.

So I was PUMPED to read about the Scotch Flight. I posted a question about it and so far I have found it at Rose & Crown and Ragland Road. So now, I just have to decide, which one, and when? I copied the picture from the other TR and posted it for your enjoyment. I hope esterhead doesn't mind.

I like the idea of R&C and sitting on the patio and watching Illuminations. It seems like a pretty popular thing to do too. So I wonder how difficult it actually is to have that plan realized. I think you can only request the patio at check in.

We like DTD. And I love the idea of the entertainment at Ragland Road. But I'm thinking the band gets started pretty late in the night. And it seems like it would be really loud. But we have been watching the Superstars of Dance competition on NBC. Anyone? DS really enjoyed the Irish dancers. So that could be cool. I read they have a single dancer there.

Decisions decisions. I LOVE WDW decisions!

Anyone with personal experience at either TS?

 

[TxRabbit]

I polled the men and the Irish Pub wins!

I'm not a big fan of big late night dinners, but I remember that if I ever made a ressie for aroun 5:00 to 6:00 we couldn't ever seem to get there in time! We'd be rushing from swimming or other afternoon break type thing.

I'm glad the band and dancer are more appealing to DS. The menu is certainly more appealing to me.

Sounds like the band starts around 8:00 pm or so. I hear that it is best to get much earlier ressies because once the band starts, table turn over really slows down. I'm thinking 7:00 pm ADR.

Ok. So anyone ever been to hear the band? Can anyone confirm timing, etc?

 

[2BoysMom]

Donna, this makes me think of London Fuller's Porter.

I love the idea of the entertainment at Ragland Road. But I'm thinking the band gets started pretty late in the night. And it seems like it would be really loud. But we have been watching the Superstars of Dance competition on NBC. Anyone? DS really enjoyed the Irish dancers. So that could be cool. I read they have a single dancer there.

Decisions decisions. I LOVE WDW decisions!

Anyone with personal experience at either TS?

YAY! I got a shout out! And as I have stated in my PTR, I'm Irish and my vote was going to be for Ragland Road. Not just b/c I'm Irish, but b/c I was recently reading a TR from an Australian lass, who said that Ragland Road was one of the best meals she had at Disney for her whole trip! I know she was doing both a TR and a Dining Report, so if you want me to find her name I can do that. But she and her DH just happened to love everything they ordered.

I didn't know there was music at RR. I think I have to look into that for our trip. My DH and I are looking forward to the use of the Cub's Den at WL, at least one or two nights, maybe we can have date night at RR. I wonder if he would try the Scotch Flight? I don't know, he does like his beer.

YAY! Now I'm on board with your PTR.

 

[TxRabbit]

YAY! I got a shout out! And as I have stated in my PTR, I'm Irish and my vote was going to be for Ragland Road. Not just b/c I'm Irish, but b/c I was recently reading a TR from an Australian lass, who said that Ragland Road was one of the best meals she had at Disney for her whole trip! I know she was doing both a TR and a Dining Report, so if you want me to find her name I can do that. But she and her DH just happened to love everything they ordered.

I didn't know there was music at RR. I think I have to look into that for our trip. My DH and I are looking forward to the use of the Cub's Den at WL, at least one or two nights, maybe we can have date night at RR. I wonder if he would try the Scotch Flight? I don't know, he does like his beer.

YAY! Now I'm on board with your PTR.

They have beer flights too!

It would be nice to use the Cub's Den one evening. I just can't bring myself to do it though. It would be different if DS had a sibling or a cousin or SOMEONE else that he would know that would be going in there with him. But since he doesn't, I know that it wouldn't be that much fun for him. That thought makes me sad. I wouldn't have any fun on my date evening. So DS will be along for the ride wherever we go.

The positive feedback on RR seems to definitely outweigh the negative. DH is a British mutt with some Irish, Scots and Welsh. I think those that have an affinity for things Irish find more enjoyment at RR too.

I used to love going to this one Irish Pub where we went to college. The man there sang this hilarious song called Seven Ladies Locked in the Lavat'ry. The chorus is: Seven ladies locked in the lavat'ry, they were there from Sunday to Saturday, No body knew they were there. Each verse is about a different lady and why she went to the bathroom in the first place. Absolutely a crack up.

 

[jewels1916]

Wow. I had no idea about the calcium-blocking danger of sodas! Thanks for telling me! I am going to have to share that with some other friends of mine that are trying to give up sodas. I like to drink iced tea also! But WDW doesn't have Sweet N' Low ("pink", as my family affectionately calls it) on the property, at least no where I've been able to find it, so I've taken to carrying "pink" in my camera case when I am at the parks!

 

[WDWRocksMySocks]

P&PP WAS a blast. I saw pics on your TR of how dressed up you were when you went. We fully dressed up too. Who CAN resist getting to go to MK in full costume? We managed to meet Cap'n Jack too. The wait time was for so long the entire party. So we decided to high tail it over there immediately after the fireworks show. It was a good plan. The photopass photographer took a pic with our camera too. I was so happy to see that he took a picture of us being social too.

You should go to MNSSHP! You get to dress up AND trick-or-treat at MK. It was a blast - and we don't even have kids! it was so fun being dressed up at MK, although a lot of people thought I was a CM.

I love the pics of you guys w/ Jack. They turned out great!

 

[MinnieLove]

subbing. I am enjoying your family and your battles......
You are a hot momma and your husband is yummy also. And you made a handsome son - enjoy....

 

[TxRabbit]

Wow. I had no idea about the calcium-blocking danger of sodas! Thanks for telling me! I am going to have to share that with some other friends of mine that are trying to give up sodas. I like to drink iced tea also! But WDW doesn't have Sweet N' Low ("pink", as my family affectionately calls it) on the property, at least no where I've been able to find it, so I've taken to carrying "pink" in my camera case when I am at the parks!

You're welcome. The knowledge was a very helpful deterant, especially when soda choices abounded and iced tea was no where to be found.

You should go to MNSSHP! You get to dress up AND trick-or-treat at MK. It was a blast - and we don't even have kids! it was so fun being dressed up at MK, although a lot of people thought I was a CM.

I love the pics of you guys w/ Jack. They turned out great!

That picture was the one that I got with my MYW coupon. MNSSHP sounds like so much fun. I would love to that one year. I have to weigh the consequences of taking DS out of school against it though. If you are familiar with G&T programs and the children in them, you would understand my DS. He is anxious to please, is very tough on himself, and HATES coming back to school after being absent (like if he's sick). I'm not sure that he would do well with a MNSSHP trip until later years.

subbing. I am enjoying your family and your battles......
You are a hot momma and your husband is yummy also. And you made a handsome son - enjoy....

You totally made my morning with your comments!

 

[TxRabbit]

Zumba ROCKS!!! I LOVE it.

I think I mentioned that the dance studio is starting 3 different dance fitness classes in February. Zumba, Hip Hop/Latin Mix, and Latin only. Before signing up for a month of unlimited, I thought I should try zumba to make sure I like it. I found that the instructor that will teach the class at the studio taught a Monday night class at a church not too far away. So I checked it out last night.

IT WAS SO MUCH FUN!!!

Jewels, I saw you were on a dance team in your sig. Have you ever tried zumba?

My loving mom asked me what I wanted for my birthday. I definitely want more dance classes!

Zumba does a little bit of all different kinds of dance moves, a lot of Latin dance moves. The music is really largely instrumental only, very percussiony and if there are vocals, the vocals have that South African sound. To me anyway. It wasn't annoying. It didn't sound like something you would get sick of easily. One song was so funny. It was a remake of "The Twist" and we twisted for most of it. Hel-lo obliques! Or should I say Goodbye? There were words to that song.

To find a class near you go to:
http://www.zumba.com/us

So the get active plan will step up a notch in February. I will be going to 3 or 4 individual fitness dance classes a week and 2 couples dance classes.

I'm also back to wearing my MBTs. Have you ever heard of these shoes? They look slightly orthopedic. They are supposed to awaken forgotten leg muscles. They do. You have to build up to wearing them all day. I volunteer in the art room at DSs elementary school for 3 hours on Mondays. I wore my MBTs. I could totally feel it. These shoes are great for adding just a little more ump to whatever walking and standing you may be doing. They are extremely comfortable too. They can be outrageously expensive. But I have been really pleased with my investment. btw, they DO come with a warranty. Check them out here:
http://www.swissmasaius.com/Default.aspx?lang=en-US

The food planning will begin once I check out a bunch of Ann Louis Gittleman books. I have requested four from the library. She wrote the Fat Flush series, including the plan, the diet, and the cookbook. Then she came out with The Fast Track One Day Detox Diet. From the excerpts I was able to read, these look like good references. DH and I have done several colon cleanses. Well, we have done one cleanse that we like multiple times. Doing that has been good for us. I'm just not up for doing that right now. I think this info might be really useful in the same kind of way. Anyone ever read any of these? Or tried them?

Speaking of food. I must confess what happened on Friday night. It's not as bad as you would think. DH was home early. He was the parent reader for DSs class on Friday. We were hanging out at the playground after school for quite while DS played with his buddy. DS wanted to hit the library so we could all play Club Penguin together. Ever heard of it? It's a Disney online multiplayer game. We used to do Toontown. Anyway, I digress.

We only have the one computer at home. But there are TONS at the library, which is connected to a community college. DH wanted DS to be able to do something he wanted since he would have to hang out and watch and wait during dance class later that evening. So, you know that we were at the library and when we left we had a little over an hour before we needed to be at dance class...and we still needed to eat dinner. There was no WAY to get home and eat and make it to class.

So we did a sort of compromise. We ate at the grocery store. I have the most awesome grocery store nearby. If you have ever lived in Texas and been to Central Market, then you KNOW how awesome it is. They have a tremendous amount of chef prepared food that you can eat there or take home. We ate there. DS had salmon and wood fired pizza. DH and I got a dinner for two. We had turkey meat loaf with a chipotle sauce, yukon gold mashed potatoes, green beans almondine, and wheat rolls. It was a great compromise on not eating restaurant food, and having a great family evening.

And since this post is so focused on the weight portion of my planning, I thought that I would share one of the greatest products I bought for the kitchen last year. They are specialty storage containers that claim to make your food last longer. I can tell you folks. They work. They absolutely work. You push the lid up and down to remove all the air inside the container. Say goodbye to moldy strawberries, limp celery, slimy asparagus, squishy grapes, soft spotted peppers, etc etc etc. These have helped me to buy more when certain produce goes on sale. And produce is what you need around when you are trying to eat healthier. And being able to eat it before it goes bad is what helps your pocket book. I highly recommend these. They even just look cool in the fridge. Here's the link:
http://www.freshvac.com/

Definitely time for lunch. Up next...dining dilemmas.

 

[jewels1916]

You loved the zumba class?! That's great! I have tried zumba before, my gym actually offers a zumba class that I was taking for a while. Such a good workout! I only stopped because I decided to start taking a few classes at a dance studio - honestly, I think you can get a better cardio workout with the zumba class though! I would still go if it wasn't the same night as my jazz class.

So you are from Texas, eh? I guess I didn't realize - or perhaps I didn't read closely enough! Whereabouts in Texas? I was born and raised in the DFW area, and am moving back there from DC in March! Central Market is yummy.

 

[TxRabbit]

You loved the zumba class?! That's great! I have tried zumba before, my gym actually offers a zumba class that I was taking for a while. Such a good workout! I only stopped because I decided to start taking a few classes at a dance studio - honestly, I think you can get a better cardio workout with the zumba class though! I would still go if it wasn't the same night as my jazz class.

So you are from Texas, eh? I guess I didn't realize - or perhaps I didn't read closely enough! Whereabouts in Texas? I was born and raised in the DFW area, and am moving back there from DC in March! Central Market is yummy.

Technically I'm from California! Born and raised for 18 years in the San Francisco Bay Area. Then I went to San Antonio at Trinity University (where I met DH). My parents had moved to Scottsdale. I lived with them for a while after I graduated and DH still had a bit to go. Then off to Colorado, a little town called Loveland north of Denver and just south of Fort Collins. DH went to grad school at CSU. DH's first job took us to Wichita, KS where DS was born. Then we went to Lenexa, KS (Kansas City metro area), then North Richland Hills, TX (DFW), then Bedford, TX (also DFW) and now we are still in TX, but DH doesn't want me to disclose my exact location. We're still in TX!

DH worked in downtown Ft. Worth. I loved the area there. We went to church in Southlake. I loved the Lifetime Fitness in Colleyville. They opened up a new Central Market in Southlake, but that was right after we moved. The Market Street grocery in Colleyville is pretty good too. The seafood counter will steam your fish for you while you shop. We would hit the salad bar and the bakery to round out a nicer easy meal sometimes.

Zumba was an excellent cardio work out! It's what I need! Taking dance related classes will be fun, but I would enjoy taking a straight up dance class too, like your jazz. Maybe that would follow when I actually hit maintenance mode.

 

[jewels1916]

Technically I'm from California! Born and raised for 18 years in the San Francisco Bay Area. Then I went to San Antonio at Trinity University (where I met DH). My parents had moved to Scottsdale. I lived with them for a while after I graduated and DH still had a bit to go. Then off to Colorado, a little town called Loveland north of Denver and just south of Fort Collins. DH went to grad school at CSU. DH's first job took us to Wichita, KS where DS was born. Then we went to Lenexa, KS (Kansas City metro area), then North Richland Hills, TX (DFW), then Bedford, TX (also DFW) and now we are still in TX, but DH doesn't want me to disclose my exact location. We're still in TX!

DH worked in downtown Ft. Worth. I loved the area there. We went to church in Southlake. I loved the Lifetime Fitness in Colleyville. They opened up a new Central Market in Southlake, but that was right after we moved. The Market Street grocery in Colleyville is pretty good too. The seafood counter will steam your fish for you while you shop. We would hit the salad bar and the bakery to round out a nicer easy meal sometimes.

Zumba was an excellent cardio work out! It's what I need! Taking dance related classes will be fun, but I would enjoy taking a straight up dance class too, like your jazz. Maybe that would follow when I actually hit maintenance mode.

That's too funny. You and I may have worked out at the same time, who knows! The gym I go to while visiting home is the Colleyville Lifetime Fitness. My family has been members for a long time. My sister and I used to hijack a raquetball court and dance in there. I even went to HS at Colleyville Heritage High School. Seems like you have lived a lot of places. I can't wait to be back in TX!

 

[TxRabbit]

So Akershus made the list. For lunch.

DS has been asking about ethnicity. What are we anyway? What am I? He's learning about all nationalities in his social studies.

Well, I am 1/2 Norwegian. So DS was all excited because he is 1/4 Norwegian and that is the most he is of anything. Boy, he really wants to try some Norwegian food! He wants lunch, not dinner. It's cool that it's in a castle, but not as big as Cinderella's castle, right? Right, son. The princesses are good. DS likes the princesses.

We might have to get Sleeping Beauty again so he can refresh his memory. It's been a long time since we saw it. He loved it. He had to have the Prince Phillip costume from the Disney store. And seriously, if you have seen that recently, it really is more about Phillip than Aurora. If you want to think of it that way. Aurora pretty much sleeps. Phillip gets all the action.

This should actually be a pretty cool meal. It was the one restaurant that DH and I ate at in Disney on our Honeymoon. We did a timeshare tour thing to fund our honeymoon. So we had 4 days and 3 nights in Orlando as part of it. We did one day at Universal. We then picked Epcot, because I had been to Disneyland a ton, I wanted to see something new.

It rained all that day. So Epcot was pretty dead. The street acts were not anywhere. We ate in Norway because I wanted to try Norwegian food. Sound familiar? It was a total buffet then. No princesses. The only thing that I really remember was that there was about 50 different kinds of herring. And I don't think I like any of them.

I was missing DL so we headed on over to MK. We had such a blast.

So, since we are honoring our anniversary on this trip. I think I might order a cake to be served here. I've heard about people doing things like this. I need to research it more. It seems a fitting place to do it. I know that some other place may be more romantic, but this one has some sentimental value after all. Too bad I don't have any pictures from that meal.

And I think I will mention here. I am pretty sure that I am going to upgrade DS to an adult. All the kid's menus are so dumbed down. I can't stand it. Even in the Norwegian place, there isn't any Norwegian option for a kid. You'd think they could offer one. And don't get me started on CS. I've worked out the math. For what it will do for the value of my vacation, it will be money well spent. Oh. Incase you are wondering, it'll be just under $250 more if we did the basic DDP, and even less if we do the QS one.

 

[TxRabbit]

That's too funny. You and I may have worked out at the same time, who knows! The gym I go to while visiting home is the Colleyville Lifetime Fitness. My family has been members for a long time. My sister and I used to hijack a raquetball court and dance in there. I even went to HS at Colleyville Heritage High School. Seems like you have lived a lot of places. I can't wait to be back in TX!

That IS funny!

I love that Lifetime! It's beautiful! It's like going to a spa. It just feels good in there. I miss the suana. And the STEAM ROOM! I loved sitting in there after working out. We'd go swimming there a lot too. In fact, that's when we'd hit Market Street and get some healthy no cook food.

I love living in TX. Especially with DS. There is something about it.

 

[TxRabbit]

I'm in the mood to talk today! I took my car in for its 30K service, and am stuck at home alone. Maybe that's why!

I still haven't decided which way to go with the meal plan. We are starting to add a few TS meals. They aren't super expensive TS meals. We have some Disney Reward Dollars to spend too.

Anyway, sorry for the boring post, but I am going to use this one to keep track of my plans moneywise and will be updating it periodically as I try to figure this all out.

Sorry if this is boring!

Donald's Safari Breakfast
Adults (2) $18.99
Holiday surcharge 8.00
Child 10.99
Holiday surcharge 2.00
Subtotal 58.97
Tax (6%?) 3.54
Total $62.50 ($73.11 for 3 adults)

Akershus Lunch
Adults (3) $30.99
Holiday surcharge 12.00
Subtotal 104.97
Tax 6.30
Total $111.27

Ragland Road
Figuring this one is much harder. The ideal trio of entrees, if we did the DDP basic, would be this:

Serious Sirloin Steak $23.95
Salmon of Knowledge 22.95
Keen Eye for the Shepherd's Pie 16.95

But then I don't even know if we would have room for dessert! It might be easier to just order two entrees to split between the three of us and have plenty of room for dessert. But it's me, I would like to try the Shepherd's Pie!

Because the Scotch flight will be ordered here. And I am sure that I will have some brew. I only wish they served Beamish here. I wonder if they do? SOOO tasty. My parents drank it IN Cork! They fell in love with it and introduced me to it.

Two entrees/two desserts: $67.71
Three entrees/two desserts: $85.68
Three entrees/three desserts: $94.15

QS DDP: $629.79
DDP Basic: $839.79

Difference: $210

Donald's Breakfast: $62.50
Arkershus Lunch: 111.27
Ragland Road: $67.71 min $94.15 max
Total $241.48 min $267.92 max
Difference ($31.48) min ($57.92) max

I was considering paying OOP for our TS meals. Depending on how we ordered at Ragland Road we would pay between $32 and $58 dollars more than the the cost of the basic DDP for the DDP QS plus three TS OOP.

At this point, it isn't worth it to me to get the DDP TS. Not yet. I don't have enough TS meals to make it worth while. Right now I am looking at a total of 42 CS meals, 42 snacks, 3 family trips to TS, and 3 refill cups for the cost of the DPP Basic plus $60 max. That seems like a lot of flexibility and some TS fun for the money.

Of course, this is ALL dependent on whether or not I can resist any other TS right?

 

[WDWRocksMySocks]

That picture was the one that I got with my MYW coupon. MNSSHP sounds like so much fun. I would love to that one year. I have to weigh the consequences of taking DS out of school against it though. If you are familiar with G&T programs and the children in them, you would understand my DS. He is anxious to please, is very tough on himself, and HATES coming back to school after being absent (like if he's sick). I'm not sure that he would do well with a MNSSHP trip until later years.

Yeah, probably doesn't sound like a great idea to pull him out of school right now. Hopefully you guys will be able to go some time in the future. It's definitely worth it at least once.

And I think I will mention here. I am pretty sure that I am going to upgrade DS to an adult. All the kid's menus are so dumbed down. I can't stand it. Even in the Norwegian place, there isn't any Norwegian option for a kid. You'd think they could offer one. And don't get me started on CS. I've worked out the math. For what it will do for the value of my vacation, it will be money well spent. Oh. Incase you are wondering, it'll be just under $250 more if we did the basic DDP, and even less if we do the QS one.

My oldest nephew (9 yo) wanted adult meals too. The kids menus at WDW are severely lacking. Although, I must admit that I like to order off them when I'm not too hungry. Hey, it's cheaper!