(WE ARE BACK! TR LINK!) The-BFF-Birthday-bash PTR turned ANNIVERSARY trip

[Tink-erin-belle]

Oh, I'm so excited that you're going on your mother/daughter trip sooner than expected and that you're staying in The Little Mermaid section! I never would've guessed that. I was thinking AKL.

Your trip with the hubs is getting closer, too! I agree with Ann: We need more updates! I need my Disney fix! Oh, and your new luggage is cute!

 

[danimaroo]

Hey Dani!! Wait, if you get it right, does this mean I have to give Trollie back?!?

Funny story related to him. I am getting a new car (ok, I have to explain the whole situation, so you'll have to humor me!) and it has taken them FOREVER to get it. They tried getting me other new cars from dealers and failed, they ordered it and kept pushing off the date and making excuses...so finally one of the dates came up and they called and said "just come in and we're going to let you drive one of our cars until yours comes in". COOL! It's a little Ford Fiesta with fantastic gas mileage (same car I'm getting, but with more bells and whistles) and in front of the mirror on each side is this ADORABLE tiny triangle window. It's so cute, I swear it's my favorite thing about the car.

Yep, everyone thinks I'm completely bonkers, but I LOVE this little mini-window. Completely pointless as well as it's so small. What does this have to do with anything you say??? Well, I have decided that when my car actually comes in, that this spot is PERFECT for Trollie (or possibly another Vinylmation if I get one on our trip). I'll have to take a picture.

Hahaha, well it looks like I got it right! But no, you can keep Mr. Norway Troll! I already have him in my collection.

I think that is quite an excellent idea to have Trollie hanging out in his own little window. I mean, he should get out and see the world, and THAT'S a good spot for him. I think it would be awesome, and I hope you take a photo of him in his little spot!

Oooh, you're thinking about getting another Vinylmation... it's all downhill from here. I may have created a monster!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

YAY!!!! That sounds like a perfect choice for you two!!! I was toying with that idea as well, but I didn't want to be that far away from a drink station (after all, it's all about the refillable mugs, isn't it?! ). I actually already made some changes to my ressie for next August. The trip hasn't even been booked a week yet and I change it! Ugh!

I'm so glad you're going to be updating more often (you ARE going to be updating more often, right??? ). I miss reading about your adventures!

LOL...yes, normally all about the mugs, but we may not even have them if we aren't doing the dining plan! From what I'm reading, there will be no FD offered for the Little Mermaid rooms if it's released, b/c they just don't need to offer it, they are booking so fast! Luckily we'll get discounts elsewhere!

YES! I'll try to update more often! I cannot promise it will be Disney related though b/c I find that these smaller trips seem to be LESS planning and craziness for me, so no Tshirts or autograph books to show, etc.

Oh, I'm so excited that you're going on your mother/daughter trip sooner than expected and that you're staying in The Little Mermaid section! I never would've guessed that. I was thinking AKL.

Your trip with the hubs is getting closer, too! I agree with Ann: We need more updates! I need my Disney fix! Oh, and your new luggage is cute!

Thanks Erin! I'm pretty excited about both trips! They are going to be totally different and I'm excited about the different aspects of each! I'm pretty freaking lucky, I'm trying not to feel guilt about getting to go to Disney twice!

Hahaha, well it looks like I got it right! But no, you can keep Mr. Norway Troll! I already have him in my collection.

I think that is quite an excellent idea to have Trollie hanging out in his own little window. I mean, he should get out and see the world, and THAT'S a good spot for him. I think it would be awesome, and I hope you take a photo of him in his little spot!

Oooh, you're thinking about getting another Vinylmation... it's all downhill from here. I may have created a monster!

Yes! I took a couple pics, just so you could see! Now remember, this isn't MY actual car, this is the one that the dealership gave me to drive until mine comes in! Mine with be violet grey in color, but you get the idea. I'll probably post another when I actually get my car and he's in his real home.

I guess I could do a little mini-update while I'm here! Rey went to his first physical therapy appointment today and they want him to come for 6 weeks. It looks like AFTER that 6 weeks (last PT on October 17th) then they will start the work conditioning, which will be lifting, pushing, etc. to get him back to where he can do these things at work. It sounds like he'll actually be home until our trip! I wish he wasn't hurting, but it's pretty nice to have this time with him!

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Your luggage is really cute!!!

Yay for another trip!!! That sounds like so much fun!!!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Your luggage is really cute!!!

Yay for another trip!!! That sounds like so much fun!!!

Thanks! I'm pretty excited about spending time with Rey alone at WDW...a just a tad bit green with envy that you are getting MARRIED there!!



Today is 60 days!!!! 2 months from today (Nov. 6th) we will be in MK, having just finished breakfast at CP!!!

 

[-Hope-]

Just popping in to tell you that even though I've been kicked out of this PTR (j/k!!) I've started my own for my trip to the dark side. Link is in my siggy!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Just popping in to tell you that even though I've been kicked out of this PTR (j/k!!) I've started my own for my trip to the dark side. Link is in my siggy!

Running off to see!!!!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

50 DAYS!!!!

I cannot believe it! Uh...better get working on the money for FOOD, drinks, and souvenirs!!

I've been pretty busy at home, not really checking into the DIS much, which is good, actually, because sometimes I can get sucked into waiting for a trip and ignore LIFE that is going on right now!

We "renovated" our kitchen this past week! I put that in quotes b/c it was ALL done with paint. We have had a very dated kitchen since we bought the house 8 years ago. It had these ugly maroon 80s counters and because the cabinets were so old, we were afraid they would fall apart if we tried to replace the counter tops. Money for new cabinets is not top of my priority list, so this last week we decided to just paint it all!

I found a tutorial on Pinterest on painting/resurfacing your counters, and I decided to go for it! Scary, but I think it came out pretty cool.

Here is the before shot. I had already painted the cabinets once, trying to find some color scheme that would go with the ugly counters:

First we painted the cabinets. Cannot remove them since the wood is so old, the hardware won't go back on if we do that! Just painted them where they were. SHEW, what a mess!

Then I refinished the counters. It's basically sponge painting and then sealing with a good clear gloss. I think it came out pretty nice compared to the ugly maroon...

Lamented over the wall color a bit, tried a neutral light blue, but we just are NOT neutral people. We like BRIGHT colors! (our livingroom is purple!) So, finally went with a lime green.

A week later, we have a "new" kitchen! I like it much more, but still need to add some accessories, I'm thinking in a turquoise color? Mirror over the sink? See Mickey?? Had to find a way to make it Disney related, after all!

Now, I MUST stop spending money (although this was less than $100 to do, all spent on paint/supplies) because it's time to save for the trip!!!

I guess I should post our plans next? Did I already do that? I don't remember.

 

[Victoriasmom98]

OMG!!!! I absolutely LOVE your new kitchen. What an awsome job you did and for under $100!!! Wow! You are amazing! But yes, it's time to get down to saving money for Disney! Oh, and I love the Mickey trivet hanging. Nice touch!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

OMG!!!! I absolutely LOVE your new kitchen. What an awsome job you did and for under $100!!! Wow! You are amazing! But yes, it's time to get down to saving money for Disney! Oh, and I love the Mickey trivet hanging. Nice touch!

Thanks Ann!

Yes, saving. Must save! We already decided against spending the night at a hotel right by the airport, we'll just have to wake up super early (no problem for ME!) and drive in. The airport is an hour and a half from our house.

That reminds me, I need to look up parking prices!

 

[-Hope-]

Thanks Ann!

Yes, saving. Must save! We already decided against spending the night at a hotel right by the airport, we'll just have to wake up super early (no problem for ME!) and drive in. The airport is an hour and a half from our house.

That reminds me, I need to look up parking prices!

Turquoise accents would be great!

The park and drive hotel we found was cheaper than parking for us. That may not be the case for you since you won't need to park for as many days but it's worth looking into. Definitely don't park at the airport. If you google it you should come up with some fairly inexpensive choices AND find some coupons to print. :

I can't believe your trip is so close!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Turquoise accents would be great!

The park and drive hotel we found was cheaper than parking for us. That may not be the case for you since you won't need to park for as many days but it's worth looking into. Definitely don't park at the airport. If you google it you should come up with some fairly inexpensive choices AND find some coupons to print. :

I can't believe your trip is so close!

Why not park at the airport??? Do you mean hourly? I wouldn't do that, but they have long term parking, we used it when we went with MA and there were no issues? It runs from 7-13$ a night, depending on the lot/covered and it is cheaper for us since it's only 3 nights! We were going to take the car since it will be full coverage insurance, in case anything happens??

 

[JDailey]

WOW the kitchen looks soooo good....I can't believe you did it for $100.00. . Yay for the mother/daughter trip in February we will be down in February too! I am counting down the days. I have talked my friends into going with us they have only been once when their kids were really young and their son had strep throat so, their experience wasn't good. I hope this trip is better for them. They are also staying at AoA in the Little Mermaid building too. Can't wait to hear more about both of your trips!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

WOW the kitchen looks soooo good....I can't believe you did it for $100.00. . Yay for the mother/daughter trip in February we will be down in February too! I am counting down the days. I have talked my friends into going with us they have only been once when their kids were really young and their son had strep throat so, their experience wasn't good. I hope this trip is better for them. They are also staying at AoA in the Little Mermaid building too. Can't wait to hear more about both of your trips!

Thanks!! It actually would have cost much less if I hadn't bought the most expensive wall paint (Signature Valspar) and had to buy primer and painting supplies like tape & rollers! Totally worth all the work for that price!

Can't wait to stay at AoA, Savannah & I are very excited! It just opened yesterday, so the pictures are starting to roll into the DIS and I'm loving it!

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Your kitchen looks great!! It looks like you changed so much, not just paint!

 

[Tink-erin-belle]

The lime green paint looks fantastic! It's amazing that you made such a transformation in your kitchen with only $100 50 days!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Your kitchen looks great!! It looks like you changed so much, not just paint!

Thanks!! I moved a few things around as well, but just the paint!

The lime green paint looks fantastic! It's amazing that you made such a transformation in your kitchen with only $100 50 days!

Thanks Erin! 49 days now...7 WEEKS from TODAY!!!!!!!!!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

46 Days to go!!! And...

New kitchen followed by a new car! Lucky me!

I FINALLY got my new car! I'm not sure I typed out all the sorted details, but basically I wanted to buy local, in my small town, and the dealer could NOT get me the car I wanted. They finally ordered a new one and then kept pushing off the date, over and over...finally put me in one of their lot cars until mine came in. It came in!!!

This is the first new car I have ever owned. I actually never thought I would own a new car, everyone always says it loses value the moment you drive off the lot. In my circumstance though, it was totally cheaper b/c I was wanting VERY low miles (I put around 25,000 miles on my vehicles with my job every year) and a low price. Well, come to find out, if you are willing to manually roll up your windows, you can save THOUSANDS. So, it was cheaper for me to get a brand new car with a stick than the same car that was a couple more years old with more miles and more bells and whistles.

I'm sure you needed that long drawn out explanation. Here is my brand new 2013 Ford Fiesta! It had 18 miles on it yesterday morning when I got in it...80 by the end of the day!

I was concerned about driving a stick (I know how) but this stick is the easiest I have ever driven, and a lot of fun!

I put Trollie in my purse when we went to get the car, just so I could put him straight into the window! I know, I'm certifiable.

Last, but not least, Rey took this pic of me and I just love how he's reflected in the window and it looks like the tree is growing in my hair!

What does this have to do with Disney? Not much! Well, it has to do with money, which is always Disney related, so I guess there's that. I'm actually going to be saving maybe 20$ a month having a car payment vs. driving the Durango! I am going to save MORE than the amount of the car payment in gas and my insurance only went up about 26$ and that is for full coverage when I just had liability before! I'm pretty pleased.

46 days and I have yet to save any money for food/souvie's b/c I had to make sure I had enough for the taxes on the car. From here on out, everything will be going to Disney...well, except Savannah's bday...Halloween...uhhhh...

 

[Tink-erin-belle]

Karen! I'm so happy for you getting a new car! I've never had a brand new car either. Your car is so cute I love stick shifts! My Volvo was a stick. I used to like them when I was younger because so few people knew how to drive stick, so no one would ask to drive my car Seriously, though, that car suits you That's a very pretty picture of you too

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Karen! I'm so happy for you getting a new car! I've never had a brand new car either. Your car is so cute I love stick shifts! My Volvo was a stick. I used to like them when I was younger because so few people knew how to drive stick, so no one would ask to drive my car Seriously, though, that car suits you That's a very pretty picture of you too

Thanks Erin! I'm just sitting around this morning, waiting until it's time to leave for our homeschool fall pary, so I can drive it!