Yes, another Disney blog! °o°

Well, after quite a bit of time, I've finally decided the direction of my blogs. Yes, I said blogS. It took me a while to decide what I want to talk about in my blogs. Honestly, after reading so many of them (thanks to Pinterest), I was beginning to wonder if the wonderful world of the Internet even needed another blog, or heaven forbid, TWO! It takes me a while to ponder things and wrap my brain totally around which way I should go. After thinking about this off and on, I came to a few conclusions: 1) I want to write about the things about which I am passionate. 2)I do not want my blogs to become a chore, one more thing to do! 3) I can not allow my blogging to interfere with my spiritual, parental, or professional goals. 4) My blogging is about me and my thoughts. I see it as an outlet to get out my random thoughts. Maybe those who read my blogs can relate to some of my random musings. Then again, maybe not. Regardless, I like the idea of putting my thoughts about my interests, at least some of them, in print. So, after all that thinking and pondering, here's what I decided: I will have two blogs, one about Disney and one about teaching. I will write about what strikes me at the time, thereby the word "Ramblings" in the title. So, here goes....my adventures in blogging! Oh, and if you'd like to read my ramblings about teaching, click here for my other blog. (Maybe eventually I'll figure out how to add a button on the side of this blog for my other one!) And just a small disclaimer to those who are wondering why I am not blogging about motherhood: it's not that I'm not passionate about being a mother or that I wouldn't like to talk about my beautiful, smart, funny, sincere, and kindhearted daughter. I just don't feel that it would be appropriate to share our mother/daughter relationship with anyone and everyone! So, onward and upward!

Just a dreamin'...

Regardless of how I'm criticized for it, my vacation wish every year since 2008 has been anything Disney. It's not looking too good for a Disney vacation this year so I've started to think about what we might be able to arrange for next year.

My dad is planning to retire in November of this year. My whole family is excited about this event because he works a job that is very physically demanding. On Mondays, for example, he gets up at 2:30 am and he usually gets home from work around 5:00 pm. Hats off to him, I say, because I know that I couldn't do his job, not even if I had a "normal" right foot! So, needless to say, he'll have a lot more time to travel.

A few months ago, my dad had an idea that we should go on a big family vacation driving across country to see my brother, Mark, who lives in California. I was excited about this idea and then my dad suggested a 2-3 week trip to Disney World after Mark expressed a desire to visit Disney World since he's been to Disneyland but not to Disney world. I mean, is he for real? I'm still not sure if my dad is serious about this plan to visit Disney but I nevertheless I've still started to plan it as much as a can for the summer of 2012.

After looking at 2011 prices, we're thinking we might plan a cruise for earlier in the year (cheaper) and then a two-week trip to Disney World in the summer. It's all still up in the air for now, but one thing is for sure: I'M GOING TO DISNEY NEXT YEAR!

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We now rejoin my regularly scheduled goals for 2010.....already in progress....

#7: Complete my 2008 Disney vacation scrapbook.

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We interrupt this reflection time to introduce you to Wally and Tiffany, two new characters created by Peyton and I during our quality time together earlier today.

(I'm currently editing the video that I made of her making Tiffany. Will upload it when it's finished.)

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#6: Be more organized

(This is the before picture of my crafting room/office. I'm almost embarrassed to post it but I'll definitely post an "after" picture of it as soon as I've made it fabulous!)

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#5: Exercise more to lose weight (Can you tell how much I've used my new treadmill?)

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#4: Stop procrastinating!

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#3: Spend more time with family.

(Took this pic yesterday but forgot to post it!)

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#2: Write in Peyton's journal and my journal everyday.

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Although I don't make New Year's resolutions, I do believe in examining my life periodically to make changes. The first 10 pictures of my Project 365 will show the reflections I've made on my life and how it can be better.

#1: Read the Bible daily and increase my spiritual growth.

New Year.....New Project

2010 is here! I definitely am not in need of another way to spend my time. Recently, however, I was reading a post on Scrapping the Magic from April Baker about a project she started last year. You can read the details here:

April's Post on StM

Project 365

I'm taking on this project in an attempt to look more closely at my life, make some changes, and also as a fun thing to do while participating in one of my favorite activities: photography.

After reading the details of Taylor McKnight's Project 365, I think I'll have to modify it just a bit for my tastes. Anyone who knows me knows that I always have to put in my two cents worth! So, my pics will also have short comments/thoughts.

Also, instead of posting my pics on Flickr or some other photo organizing site, I'll just post my pics here.

One other thought on this.....my pics won't sum up my day necessarily. They might be random, could be something important to me at the time, or just...well, who knows...the possibilities are endless!

So, here goes......

Disney 2009

Well, we're back from Mickey's World....have been back for a while. Now, it's on to scrapbooking the trip, editing and producing movies from our trip, chatting with my Disney friends.....oh yeah, and updating my trip report on Scrapping the Magic.

Just a little update on a previous post on my blog. Here is my little princess in her new Giselle dress during our trip to Disney in September. We ate breakfast at Akershus in Norway, Epcot on Tuesday, September 29.

Well, we're headed to the beach tomorrow after my Dad gets home from work....probably about 1:00 pm or so. We're headed to the Outer Banks, specifically Rodanthe, NC to camp in my parents' pop-up camper. Yeah, I know....to some people camping at the beach is out of the question. You have to know how we go before you make a judgement: our pop-up is fully equipped with microwave, refrigerator, air conditioning, cable TV, and wifi! You didn't really think I could live without a wifi connection, did you? Roughin' it? HARDLY! The only difficult part (but not unreasonable) is that the bathroom is a short walk away from our campsite! Well, ya can't have it all, can you?

Here's a picture of an example of our camper (it's a pretty close likeness...the color is a little off):




My next blog: Pics from our trip to the OBX!

The New Princess Giselle

Well, her dress came pretty quickly! And yes, you're seeing correctly: it is too big. I'll wait until a few weeks before we go to allow her some growing time and then I'll have my seamstress take it up. Isn't she just gorgeous in it? I can't wait to see her in September when we go, when it's the right size and ironed!



(She was tired of taking pics by this point!)

My Little Princess

Well, I ordered Peyton's dress for our upcoming trip to Disney World. Last year she wanted to dress as Belle for our breakfast at Cinderella's Royal Table.
This year we're going to the Princess Storybook Breakfast at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, Norway, Epcot.
She has decided that this year she wants to be Giselle from Enchanted. As always, trying to pinch pennies, I waited to buy her dress thinking the price would drop even lower (it's on sale....it was $79.95 and now it's $49.95). So, of course, what happens? They don't have her size! So, I bought a 7 (she's really in a 6) hoping that the 7 will fit by the time we go to Disney in September/October. If not, I'll have my seamstress take it up.

Then I went to buy the shoes, tiara, and earrings that match and of course.....they dont have the shoes in her size and they've sold out of the tiara and earrings! UGGGGHHHHH!!! That's what I get for being so cheap! So, now I'm hoping that the fall collection of costumes will have shoes and a tiara and earrings that I can get for her! Guess we'll see......

Here's the dress I ordered:


She's going to be just beautiful! Can hardly wait until our trip! 88 days and counting!

The Adventure Begins....

Well, here it goes. My first experience with my own blog. I may be the only one who ever reads it but at least I'll have a record online of various interests in my life! Perhaps my daughter will want to read it one day. Plus I think this will be fun!