Disaster Looming? Never Fear!

In the past year alone, I’ve been on an emotional roller-coaster of ups and downs, especially where business is concerned.  So, this quote from Walt has significant meaning to me. 

Last January, I felt as if my world were falling down around me and I was hopeless to do anything to stop it.  However, over the course of the next few months, I had ideas pop into my head – as well as into the heads of several friends – and together we collaborated on a new business effort that is now known as Homeschool Mosaics. 

As with Walt’s personal experience, in my own I have realized that sometimes we need to hit rock bottom in order to see which way is up and start on a course to get there! 

I’m so glad that Mickey Mouse popped into Walt’s head at EXACTLY the right time.  Otherwise, the Walt Disney empire (movies, parks, etc.) probably wouldn’t exist as we know it today.  And, I can’t imagine my life without Disney in it. 

How about you?

Half the Fun is Getting There!

If I were to relate the above quote (this week’s Destination Disney topic) to Disney, I’d say something that you’ve probably heard me say many times before here on my blog – half the fun is in the planning!  For me, I spend a lot of time planning each of our Disney trips.  I watch the Disney planning DVD’s (even though I’ve seen them all before) and Disney documentaries, and I read books and websites.  Eventually, we make it to Disney and our trip is great – but the journey to get there is rewarding too. 

And the same rings true for life . . .

Obviously, considering this quote comes from the Hannah Montana Movie, it brings this song to mind:

The words of this song are so true -

I can almost see it
That dream I'm dreaming but
There's a voice inside my head sayin’,
You'll never reach it,
Every step I'm taking,
Every move I make feels
Lost with no direction
My faith is shaking but I
Got to keep trying
Got to keep my head held high

There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle,
Sometimes you’re gonna have to lose,
Ain't about how fast I get there,
Ain't about what’s waiting on the other side
It's the climb

The struggles I'm facing,
The chances I'm taking
Sometimes they knock me down but
No I'm not breaking
I may not know it
But these are the moments that
I'm gonna remember most yeah
Just got to keep going
And I,
I got to be strong
Just keep pushing on, cause

There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle,
Sometimes you’re gonna have to lose,
Ain't about how fast I get there,
Ain't about what’s waiting on the other side
It's the climb

There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle,
Sometimes you’re gonna have to lose,
Ain't about how fast I get there,
Ain't about what’s waiting on the other side
It's the climb

Keep on moving
Keep climbing
Keep the faith baby
It's all about
It's all about
The climb
Keep the faith
Keep your faith

While I can’t claim to be a huge Miley Cyrus fan, I do like this song.  Because the words of it are so true. 

I have seen this scenario played out many times in my life, in just the past year alone.  We’re always going to face adversity and we’re always going to want to find a way around it.  There are always going to be struggles, and we need to get through them.  Sometimes the outcome won’t be the one we hope for, and that’s ok.  Each and every moment plays a part in our eventual outcome – and, chances are, we’ll look back one day and the little things along the way will be ones that have created the best memories! 

A Little Disney for the Holidays

Welcome to those of you joining me from FOCUSED ON THE MAGIC and those of you just hopping aboard. I am the 2nd stop on our Magical Blogorail.  This month, we’re sharing about Disney Holiday Gifts.

---

There’s no way around it.  We’re big-time Disney fans at my house, so there is bound to be some Disney gifts under our Christmas tree each year. 

In the past, these gifts have included things like:

• Movies
• T-shirts
• Pajamas
• Stuffed Disney Characters
• Ornaments
• Disney Gift Cards
• And last year I treated myself to a Disney tree skirt

This year, there will be some different Disney gifts under our tree. . .

My kids all collect Disney pins, and I recently decided to start my own pin collection (since I got such a nice set upon graduating from the College of Disney Knowledge).  Disney World Personal Shopper had a bunch of Disney trading pins for sale on their Facebook page, so I ordered a bunch (some for each member of our family – including Brian, who hasn’t started collecting yet – I guess he and I can share!)  I’ll put some back for future gift-giving, but will definitely include some pins in stockings!

They also had an adorable Christmas Mickey on sale (sold out in the parks), so I had to splurge and order him for ME!

Gracie did the majority of her Christmas shopping on our September trip to Walt Disney World.  So my mom will be receiving some awesome soap from Basin (love that place!)  I also happen to know that she got Ian what will be our family’s very first Vinylmation.  An e-mail from the Disney Store last week inspired me to do a little extra shopping of my own, and I ordered a Vinylmation for each one of us (so there will be 6 new Vinylmations joining our family this Christmas! I wonder what they will be?!

Ashley and I had fun looking at all the Disney Cookbooks on our last trip.  I just so happen to know that she picked one up for me, so I’m pretty excited to receive that!

On Ashley’s birthday weekend away, we found the most beautiful calendar of Thomas Kincaid Disney prints.  When she looked at me and said “Can you buy me this for Christmas?” I couldn’t resist!  I’m guessing some of those prints will end up framed and hanging in her room!

And, last but not least, my Gracie has  become quite the reader lately – devouring books.  She’s been loving several of the series’ published by Disney Hyperion, so I ordered her a new series that I’m hoping she will like.  (Gee, I hope she doesn’t ever read my blog! Just in case, I won’t name the series!)

What about you?  Do you shop Disney for Christmas? 

---

Thank you for joining me today. Your next stop on the Magical Blogorail Loop is DISNEY ON WHEELS.

Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail Loop should you happen to have to make a stop along the way and want to reboard:
 
1st Stop ~ Focused on the Magic
2nd Stop ~ Heidi’s Head (you are here)
3rd Stop ~ Disney on Wheels
4th Stop ~ A Glass Slipper Vacation
Final Stop ~ Your Highway in the Sky

Catching Up on Quotes

Walt Disney has long been an inspiration to me, and I especially appreciate this quote.  I’ve got to admit that there was definitely a time in my life when, if someone would have said to me “you’ll never be able to do that”, that I probably would have stopped trying, believing that they were right, and giving up.

I’m not like that anymore.  Now, I look at the things that others think are impossible as challenges.  And I’m pretty determined to prove the naysayers wrong. 

And the times when I’ve actually had success with this, I feel such a sense of accomplishment.  I want to look those people right in the eye and say “Well, check this out!  It was fun to do the impossible!” 

Matthew 19:26 says this:

“With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”

I believe that if we have God on our side, and we are doing His will, that we should expect great things.  We should be expecting the impossible! 

This quote reminds me very much of a quote by another famous man, Dr. Seuss:

“You are you and that is true, there's no one in the world who's you-er than you.”

This is another thing that I’m learning as I get older.  It doesn’t matter what PEOPLE think of us.  It only matters what God thinks.  So, we shouldn’t spend time conforming to the world – we don’t need to be what people around us THINK we should be.  We need to be ourselves. 

One thing that I've always been very careful about is being myself here on my blog (and now on FB and other social media as well).  I’m not afraid to admit when I’m having a bad hair day, that my house is a mess, or that I didn’t get a thing on my to-do list accomplished.  I’m less than perfect.  And that’s ok.

I have seen so many people get caught up in trying to be something/someone that they aren’t.  It’s never pretty. 

So, take the advice of both these wise men – Walt Disney and Dr. Seuss – and learn to just be you.  And like yourself!

New Fantasyland Grand Opening!

I’m a blessed girl!  Sure, I might not live in Florida – right near my favorite place on earth.  And, I might not have been invited to celebrate the Grand Opening of the New Fantasyland at Walt Disney World today. BUT, I have a friend who lives there and who was able to be a part of the opening festivities today.  And, he’s such a great friend, that he offered me the chance to share the experience right here on my blog!  Told you I was blessed!  (I don’t use the word “luck” because luck has nothing to do with it, but more on that story later.)

So, without further adieu, making it’s first-ever blog appearance (right here at Heidi’s Head), here is the Opening Ceremony video, as taped by my friend LanceAround.

And, because Lance is just that great, he also offered me some exclusive first peeks at his pictures from today as well.  Why?  Because he knows me well enough to know that, even though I couldn’t be there myself, I’m excited to share the fun with my readers and friends!  Check these out:

New Little Mermaid Ride

Mrs. LanceAround chats with the co-directors of The Little Mermaid. When asked about their current project they replied that they couldn't talk about it, except to say it's an animation that features singing and music and is about three years away.

Thanks, Lance!  You literally made my day when you called this afternoon!  I’m honored to be able to share this special day with you and all my friends at Walt Disney World. 

If you’re going to be in the Orlando area any time soon, I’d encourage you to check out Lance’s blog at Lance Around Orlando.  Not only does he share some of the fun happenings in the Orlando area, but I love that he often talks about the obscure, off-the-beaten-path type things to do (like local tea rooms, shops, and parks, etc.)

If you’re interested in renting a Dream Home for your Orlando visit, please  click on the link in my sidebar!

What’s Holding YOU Down?

This week’s Destination Disney quote is a very profound one, especially coming from someone so tiny . . .

I’ve been pondering this one all week.  But, alas, tomorrow is the day to post a new quote; so I need to stop thinking and start typing! 

When I think about Dumbo, his ears were the  bane of his existence.  He hated them.  They got in his way all the time.  They were different.  And, he was ashamed of them.  Yet, as it turned out, there were the very thing that he ended up using to fly. 

There’s a lesson in there for us.  I’m trying to think of specific examples of this in my own life . . .

One large example was infertility and pregnancy loss.  If you’ve ever dealt with infertility, then you know what an emotional roller-coaster it can be.  It’s definitely a downer most of the time.  I went through several years of infertility before finding out we were pregnant with Baby #2, only to have the pregnancy end (it was an ectopic pregnancy that went undetected and ruptured – causing near death).  In any case, I remember being VERY down afterwards.  But, as a result, it encouraged us to pursue adoption.  So, the very thing that was holding me down absolutely did end up lifting me up in that case (and again about 6 years later!)

Sometimes maybe things hold us down that we don’t even realize.  I had a job like that.  I thought it was wonderful at the time, yet in hindsight I realize how much it was limiting me from being who God would have me to be.  Once I let go of that job and the hold it had on me, I was able to literally soar to new heights – both personally and professionally. 

Other times, I think we’re held back because of our comfort levels.  Maybe we’re missing out on a great opportunity because we’re too scared to talk out in a group, sing in public, drive into the city, or just whatever.  These are just a few personal examples of things that used to (or still do) hold me down. 

I don’t know what may be holding you down; but I do know that you CAN FLY! 

Top 10 Reasons to LOVE Disney!

I’ve been having a lot of fun chatting it up with my new friends over at my blog’s FB page. You are welcome to join in the fun here. One of the recent questions I asked them was “Why do you love Disney?”  I had so much fun reading their replies (many of which are things that would be included in my personal answer), so I thought I’d put together my Top 10 Favorites – Reasons Why YOU Should Love Disney too!

1. “the magic!” ~Chelsea
2. “when [you] walk into the gates [you] feel instantly this sense of joy & excitement that [is unexplainable].” (~Lacey)
3. “the fun we have together as a family . . . [and] the memories that are created.” (~Pamela)
4. “it transports you away from life for a while and gives you amazing memories to have always” (~Hayley)
5. “it's the one place where [you] feel like [you’re] in [your] own fantasy world. You feel so removed from the day to day things that wear us down on a daily basis.” (~Cindy)
6. “it makes you feel like a kid all over again....no matter how old you are...” (~Maureen)
7. “it means so many different things to so many different people” (~Mike)
8. “all your problems fade [when you’re there]” (~Eran)
9. “the movies that I loved as a child, and that I now share with my kids, come to life” (~Sarah)
10. “great food” (~Teryl)

So, do you agree?  Why do YOU love Disney?  Let me know in the comments.

It’s All in the Journey

This was last week’s Destination Disney quote and I think that it’s got to be one of the wisest things that Captain Jack has ever said.  I mean, if you’ve spent any time reading my Disney-related posts here on my blog, then surely you know that I’m a planner.  A big-time planner.  And so, I’m thinking of this quote in terms of planning for Disney . . .

My motto is “the planning is half the fun”. 

My neighbors went on an impromptu Disney trip this past week.  When I saw “impromptu” I mean it – as in, they came over one day, asked me to watch their dog, and left the next day.  Totally off-the-cuff.  No plans whatsoever. 

I don’t work that way.  I love to plan for our Disney trips.  And sometimes for a long time.  Why?  Because, by planning, I feel that I’m extending my vacation. 

Sure, when I get to the actual destination, it’s wonderful.  But, the trips last way too short of a time. 

So, I plan from trip to trip.  We literally get home from one and start plotting, scheming, and planning when we can go back.  Even if we don’t have dates etched in stone, we’re still planning and dreaming. 

Yep, that’s my take on the quote.  How about you?

Adversity, Obstacles, and Troubles . . . oh my!

How many people do you know who would say that they actually like adversity, trouble, or obstacles?  I don’t know too many!  I can’t say that I’m a big fan –especially when in the midst of any of these things.

I’m not a fan of adversity because I’ve always been a bit of a peacemaker, I guess.  I just want everyone to get along.  I don’t like conflict. I don’t like disagreements.  (Sometimes I just want everyone else to agree that I’m right and move on. LOL) 

I’m not a fan of trouble because I’m really not much of a rule-breaker and I've never enjoyed being in trouble.  Whether it be in school, or pulled over by a police officer for speeding.  Trouble in life – things like financial trouble or relationship trouble – nope, don’t enjoy them either.  Trouble seems to lend itself to worry – worry results in stress.  If I could get through life without it, I’d choose the easy road!

And obstacles . . . I’m not a fan because I just want things to go my way and run smoothly.  Those obstacles that get thrown in the path – either in the form of adversity or trouble – just aren’t any fun.  I’d rather walk around them than through them! 

But, Walt’s got a point . . . without these things in our lives, we wouldn’t grow.  Having to face – and work through – these things definitely does make us stronger. 

I could share personal examples.  I’m sure you could too.  The point is that we have to work THROUGH them.  We can’t walk around them.  We can’t avoid them.  We have to face them, conquer them, and move on.  We need to look at them as a learning experience.  We need to take that experience and use it to make us wiser and stronger. 

We can’t sit around wallowing in self-pity, wondering why this adversity, trouble, or obstacle has come our way.  If we do, we’re stunting our own growth.  And, quite possibly, missing the blessing!

I wish I had known Walt.  I think he was a very wise and insightful man. 

And that’s my take on this week’s quote.  Have you shared YOUR thoughts yet?  Don’t forget to link them up here.

“You’ll Know What To Do”

This week, we’re focusing our Destination Disney energies on this quote:

Mrs. Incredible has some really good advice in this quote, don’t you think?  And really, the Bible has some similar advice:

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. ~Matthew 6:34 (NIV)

Sometimes this can be a hard pill to swallow.  I know I tend to worry about things – probably way too much.  I worry about my kids.  I worry about our finances.  I worry about the weather.

But, you know what?  It’s not worth it to worry – and Mrs. incredible is right – when we’re put in a situation that is something new, we will know what to do.  We’ll figure it out.  We have brains and we’re qualified to use them. 

Sometimes it might be a challenge, but challenges are good for us, right?

What are your thoughts on this quote?  Share them in the comments, or post about them on your blog and link up here.

Moving Forward --- new doors, new paths

This week’s quote for our Destination Disney meme is one of my favorites from Walt Disney ===>

To me, this quote can be applied to so many areas in life, but I’m going to apply it to mine in the 2 areas that I seem to be the most focused right now --- my kids and homeschooling, and my job. . .

Ever since Gracie was a tiny little thing, I dreamed of her one day playing the violin.  Any time I would mention it, though, she would say she wasn’t interested.  She wanted to take piano lessons instead – so, she did.  Then, one day, out of the clear blue (and after I had long given up on having a violinist in my family), she came to me and said “You know, I think I would like to try the violin now.”

Why?  Because she had a good musical foundation by that time, and she was struck with curiosity . . . what might the violin be like? 

We were fortunate enough to get her in with an excellent violin teacher, and she’s been doing great with both violin and piano!  Her curiosity definitely led her down new paths, as she’s playing with the Central PA Homeschool Orchestra for the second year now!

As for me, I talked a bit about my new work adventures in last week’s post.

When we’re curious, it gives us new ideas.  New ideas lead us down new paths and through new doors. 

True, those doors don’t always open to success.  But, many times, they do.  We just need to do as Walt suggests in the quote and KEEP MOVING FORWARD.  No looking back at the things that maybe didn’t work out quite as planned.  Those things are all part of the process that led you to TODAY!  So, it’s all good! 

What are your thoughts on this week’s quote?  Share them on your blog and come back to this post to link up.

Think, think, THINK!

For this week’s Destination Disney in Quotes, we’re focusing on this one, from our friend Winnie-the-Pooh.

What this quote means to me . . .

Almost a year ago now, my friend Brenda and I felt led to quit our jobs.  We worked together heading up a product review team.  It was a very hard job to walk away from because we both really liked what we were doing. 

But, I have to confess something . . . there were times when we felt so limited in what we actually COULD do.  We both had ideas swirling around in our heads – things that would be beneficial for the team and make things better and more efficient.  Some of them, we were able to put into practice; but others were simply tucked away in the recesses of our minds because we didn’t have the means, resources, or permission to put them into practice.

Sometimes God has other things in store for us . . . things we might have no clue about because we can’t see the bigger picture.  But, He knows each step of the path we take in this life.  And sometimes, looking back, it becomes so obvious why events played out the way they did (even if, at the time, it seemed traumatic or heartbreaking). 

Now, Brenda and I are at a place in our lives where we can make use of our ideas.  They are OURS.  And we don’t have to run them by anyone else to see if they are good, workable ideas.  We bounce them off each other – and, sometimes, we help each other take those ideas and make them into something even better. 

Earlier this year, with the help of a circle of phenomenal friends, we launched our first idea – the website called Homeschool Mosaics.  If you’re a homeschooler, and you haven’t visited this site yet, you’re seriously missing out!  We’ve got a team of 35 writers now – and each month we bring you articles about all areas of homeschooling – whether you’re just starting out with preschoolers or you’re nearing the end of your homeschool journey, whether you’re an all-textbook-all-the-time homeschooler or an unschooler, there’s something for everyone on this site!

Now, we’re at a point where we’re getting ready to launch another new project.  I  can’t really give details now . . . but the announcement will be hitting the blogosphere in the next few weeks.  And we’re really excited about it! 

Why?  Because we’ve been digging deeper!  We’ve been thinking of things that we’ve never thought of before!  And we’re excited to be able to put those ideas into practice!

Sometimes ideas are put into practice and the results are success.  Other times, failure.  Or maybe somewhere in between – the project just doesn’t live up to expectations.  No matter what, though, it’s always a learning experience.  Whether we succeed or fail at something, as long as we take what we’ve learned from the experience, pick ourselves up, brush off the so-called dirt, and move forward, using our experiences toward the next big thing, we’re always a success! 

What are your thoughts on this quote?  I’d love to hear them.  Either leave me a comment below, or post about them on your blog, then come back to this post and link up.  (You don’t have to be a Disney lover to take part in this meme!)

A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes

“A dream is a wish your heart makes
when you're fast asleep.
In dreams you will lose your heartaches.
Whatever you wish for, you keep.
Have faith in your dreams, and someday,
your rainbow will come smiling through.
No matter how your heart is grieving,
if you keep on believing,
the dream that you wish will come true.”
~Cinderella

I love Cinderella!  I must say, she is consistently one of my kids’ favorite princesses to interact with when we’re visiting Disney.  On our trip in January, she got right down on Ian’s level and, as you can see in the picture above, he was quite taken with her. 

When I chose the quote for this week’s Destination Disney, I wasn’t thinking about  writing this post, or exactly what I’d say as far as what this quote means to me.  I’ve read over it several times over the past week.  While I certainly don’t believe in the fairy tale mentality that everything that we wish for will come  true, I find that this quote ties in rather nicely with the sermon that we heard on Sunday, based on Matthew 7:7:

“Ask, and it will be given to you;
seek, and you will find;
knock, and it will be opened to you.”

While it may seem silly to compare a fairy tale to Scripture, I do believe that if we are putting our faith and trust in God, we will one day have our “happily ever after”.  And, in the end, this life – with it’s trials and hardships – will all be worth it!

What are your thoughts on this quote?  Please do share them on your blog, then go to this post and link up!  (You don’t even have to be a Disney lover to participate in this meme!) 

Just do it already!

This week, as part of our Destination Disney in QUOTES series, we are focusing on this quote:

Notice the background image on this graphic – it’s part of the new Fantasyland expansion project at Walt Disney World.  We took this picture on our last visit.  It reminded me so much of the quote – Disney is always seeking ways to expand, grow, and change.  Sure, they make plans; but then they put those plans into action.  Very soon, these plans will be reality, as the new Fantasyland will be totally unveiled in a very short time!  I, for one, can’t wait to see it!

But, this quote really hit home for me.  You see, I’m a professed plan-a-holic.  It’s true.  My name is Heidi and I like to plan.  A LOT. 

And I’ve always said that, especially when planning our Disney trips, 1/2 the fun is in the planning.  It’s a way for me to extend the vacation fun so that it lasts all the time and not just on the few too-short days of our actual visit. 

But, planning can sometimes be a hindrance.  Sometimes I get so wrapped up in the planning that I tend to feel like I miss the actual event.  I've felt like this many years after the holidays.  I’m left wondering where the days went because I was so caught up in the planning that I lost sight of what was really important. 

I used to be like that with our homeschool too – I’d spend so much time (months!) planning everything out, only to end up disappointed if things didn’t go exactly the way I had planned.  I’ve certainly learned to relax where our school plans are concerned!

But, Walt is right – he hit the nail head on with this quote – planning is ok, but it needs to go one step further.  I need this reminder – daily!  Take my plans and put them into action! 

What about you?

The Minds of Our Children

This is the second week of our new series of topics for Destination Disney.  Each week, we’re focusing on a quote.  This week’s quote is one that has great meaning to me, as a homeschool mom . . .

I took this picture while sitting inside the American Adventure pavilion, waiting to hear the Voices of Liberty sing and then be ushered into the theater for the show.  I love the American Adventure pavilion – it’s a treasure trove of great quotes (if you haven’t noticed)!  It’s also a rather interesting place!  If you pass this by on your trips around the World Showcase, I’d encourage you to stop and really soak it all in next time you visit.

Anyway, this past spring, we graduated our oldest daughter, Ashley, from our homeschool.  13 years ago, when it was time for her to start kindergarten, the teachers in our school district were on strike.  To make a long story very short, I decided to homeschool her for kindergarten.  Because, after talking to some people that I respected, and thinking and praying about it, I realized that nobody else knew this child as well as I did.  After all, I had spent every day of the first (almost) 6 years of her life with her. 

So, we set out on this adventure called homeschooling.  And, it’s been a journey every since.  We’ve taken some shortcuts and side roads along the way.  We’ve definitely made some mistakes. 

But, I have learned that Walt was definitely right – the minds of our kids are something really special, and something that we need to be molding, mentoring, and encouraging.

Just this past year, it finally hit me that it’s not “all about the books”.  My kids have gifts and talents that we need to be encouraging and instructing too.  So, we’ve added more extracurricular activities to our routines, and relaxed a bit about our schedule.

It is my prayer that I am training up kids who will use their minds and their talents to the best of their abilities.

Just think, these children that we are raising are the future!  They really are our greatest natural resource!

Yesterday, Tomorrow, and Fantasyland

Last week, I posted what will be the first quote in a series of Destination Disney topics.  Each week, we’ll talk about a famous Disney-related quote and share what it means to us – either in words, in pictures, or both.

Here is the quote that we’re focusing on this week:

This sign is seen as you pass through the archway under the train station at the Magic Kingdom.  (I’m told that a similar sign welcomes those who enter Disneyland as well, though I have yet to experience it personally.)  I love this sign because it embodies all of what Walt Disney World is to me – and it’s so true, in a literal sense!  When I enter into any park at Walt Disney World, I am suddenly transported from this life full of stress, worries, and fears into a place where I’m young again, where there are no cares in the world, and where dreams come true! 

But, let’s break it down a little bit . . .

YESTERDAY – We see bits of a “wilder” yesterday in both Adventureland and Frontierland.  But, to me, the best “yesterdays” are in Liberty Square and walking down Main Street USA.  I love history and learning about early America and our founding fathers. I love the architecture of old (probably the reason I chose to purchase an older home in which to live).  So, these two parts of the park are favorites.  Walking down Main Street is idyllic – and I love the attention to detail in everything that you see.  (Have you ever noticed how the streetlights change from gas lanterns to electric as you stroll down the street?)

And Liberty Square, with its roots in Colonial Williamsburg and Philadelphia – well, it’s enough to say that I just adore that!  Living in PA, it seems odd to say that I’ve only really been to the touristy parts of Philly once, but I get to Williamsburg as often as life and our budget will allow! 

TOMORROW – Walt had a thing for the future, and that is portrayed in the part of the park known as Tomorrowland.  With the passage of time, some of the attractions in this area aren’t very futuristic anymore (such as my personal favorite – the Carousel of Progress), but they’re still lots of fun!

 

FANTASY – There is so much fantasy at the Magic Kingdom that it’s sometimes hard to tell the fantasy from reality – it all blends together.   Meeting princesses and fairy godmothers and staring in awe at the castle that is the icon of the park – it’s all pretty special!

All this is why I hate to leave.  It’s why I cry when we drive away.  It’s why I call this “my happy place”.  If you’ve been there, I’m sure you understand! 

My version of the Lighthouse Sandwich

The other day, I shared about our day at the Magic Kingdom earlier this month.  I mentioned eating lunch at Columbia Harbor House.  (You can see their menu here.)  Anyway, I’m allergic to seafood and chicken nuggets really wasn’t on my radar that day.  So, I decided to try something totally different and went with the Lighthouse Sandwich.  They describe it this way – “hummus with tomato and broccoli slaw on toasted multigrain bread”. 

Let me interject here and say that my addiction to the Roasted Red Pepper Hummus (especially the Aldi’s brand) scares me.  When I open a container of it, I literally cannot stop eating it.  I can’t even tell you WHY I like it so much – I just do. 

So, I figured a hummus sandwich might be right up my alley. And I was right!  I loved my lunch that day and I’ve been thinking about it ever since.  I mean, how hard could it be to recreate this little bit of yumminess?  So, for lunch today (and yesterday, truth be told), I did just that.  And you can too . . .

Just start out with these 4 ingredients (pictured above):

• Your favorite bread (I bought this 100% Whole Wheat bread at Aldi’s, but feel free to use your favorite wheat or whole grain variety)
• Hummus (also purchased at Aldi, but notice how this is the original flavor and NOT the roasted red pepper variety – confession: I ate the two containers of that already!)
• Broccoli Slaw (ok, I only shopped at Aldi and Walmart – neither of which carry broccoli slaw – and I was desperate – so I used plain cole slaw this time)
• Some variety of honey mustard dressing (mine is Ken’s because I had a coupon and because I love his dressings!)

Toast your bread.  When we first bought our house, my friend Ann bought us a toaster oven and I’ve been a die-hard ever since.  No toasters for this girl – no thank you.  Anyway, you use whatever type of toaster you prefer.  I won’t judge.

While your bread is toasting, combine some of your slaw with honey mustard.  There are no specific measurements here, just dump and stir.  If it’s too runny or not wet enough, add more ingredients to adjust to your liking.  (For the record, the cole slaw was just fine in the sandwich and cheaper than broccoli slaw.  Next time, I’ll splurge and broccoli slaw and see if I like the taste enough better for the difference in price.)

Spread hummus on both slices of your toast.  Honestly, I think it was only on one slice at Columbia Harbor House; but I think putting it on both sides helps hold the sandwich together better.  And don’t quote me on that – I only ate the sandwich there once, so I may be wrong.

Add your slaw mixture to the toast.  Just slap it on there.  It’s ok if it looks messy. 

Close up your sandwich, slice, and enjoy.  I chose to slice mine on the diagonal because that’s what they do at Columbia Harbor House.  But, you do what cut you like best – it’s up to you.  And it’ll taste the same no matter how you cut it.  Honest. 

Oh, and yes those are really cheap children’s plates from IKEA.  What can I say?!  And one more thing --- the original sandwich contains 2 slices of tomato.  If you like tomato, go for it. Personally, I hate tomato (unless it’s pizza or spaghetti sauce) so I chose to leave it off.

If you decide to try the Lighthouse Sandwich at home, please let me know what you think of it.  I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Last Thursday . . .

Thursday was our day at the Magic Kingdom.  Let’s face it, no trip to Walt Disney World is complete without a visit to this park.  I know many people who visit this park first every time.  There’s just something really special about seeing the castle in the distance, and that stroll down Main Street that is so idyllic. 

We were excited to see the park all decorated for fall.  Having never visited at this time before, we’d only ever heard (and seen pictures) of how wonderful it looks.  This time, we got to experience it!  I love fall and wish they would sell these awesome Mickey-pumpkin wreaths in the gift shops!  I’d love one for my front door!

The kids and I hopped in line to meet Mickey & Minnie first thing.  While in line, Gracie noticed that Rapunzel was in the Princess Meet & Greet.  Ashley is a die-hard Rapunzel fan and has been wanting to meet her for awhile now; so we hopped in that line afterwards and met her, Aurora, and Cinderella.  (I’ll share pictures of our meet-ups when we get our Photopass cd.)

Next, we headed to meet up with our friends from 3D Travel for The Ultimate Field Trip Scavenger Hunt.  We divided into teams of 10-12 members each and went up and down Main Street to find the answers, collect the objects, and  get pictures of the things on the list.  It was great fun, though a bit crazy!  Our team came in 2nd place overall!

One of the required items was to get a picture of a Photopass photographer in front of the castle.  Ian and my friend Amy’s little girl hopped in the picture with him to make it more special!  We chose the right photographer as he totally played along and was great fun!  I assigned Ian to a “partner” for the hunt – we were moving so fast and I knew I could never keep track of him (so this second picture is Ian with his friend Daniel).  Here’s a picture of our whole team on the bleachers at Casey’s (another required picture):

After the hunt, we ate lunch at Colonial Harbor House Restaurant in Liberty Square.  I had the Lighthouse Sandwich and really enjoyed it.  (In fact, I just bought the stuff to try to recreate it here at home!)  From there, we spent some time hanging out with my friend Amy and her kids – taking in some favorite rides and attractions.

Later, we saw Kutless doing an interview in front of the  castle, visited the new Fantasyland expansion (Storybook Circus) on the pouring down rain (complete with Disney ponchos!), and took our obligatory million pictures of the castle from various angles!

We left the park to head over to the Polynesian for supper at one of our favorites – ‘Ohana.  Yum!

Last Wednesday . . .

It was so refreshing to wake up in a much cooler room (if you don’t know what I’m talking about, be sure to read Tuesday’s trip report!) Getting ready was a much more comfortable experience!

My girls both LOVE Hollywood Studios, so we were all excited to get our day started and, even with depending on Disney busing, we made it to the park before opening!  We had time to leisurely stroll into the park while taking pictures of my favorite attraction (Tower of Terror) and we stopped for a Photopass picture as well (which reminds me, I can’t wait to see how our Photopass pictures turned out!)

Much like our experience with Soarin’ at Epcot, we had a 5 minute walk to Toy Story Mania.  September might be HOT in FL, but they aren’t kidding when they say the crowds are low!  Afterwards, we got a Fast Pass to come back and ride again a bit later, then got in line to meet Buzz & Woody.

We stopped for coffee and a pastry (aka the Carrot Cake Cookie) at Writers Stop, then took in Ian’s favorite attraction – Star Tours. 

I love that we’ve been able to visit Disney more often in the past few years.  It means that we don’t have to “attack” the parks with gusto and a list of everything we absolutely have to do or can’t miss.  But, instead, we can take our time and stroll through the parks, sometimes stopping to notice things we might not have noticed before, or whatever.  No agenda, no plan – a different world for me, but I like it!

We had lunch at Pizza Planet because there was NOBODY in line – another first for us! We watched the Indiana Jones show, which we hadn’t seen for a few years, and really enjoyed it.  And we took in Beauty and the Beast again – another favorite that we hadn’t taken the time for on our past few visits.

The chicken sub was on the kids’ meal – it was delicious and I wish they’d offer it for adults!  They seriously give you way too much food here though.  The ceasar salad is yummy, but those cappuchino cupcakes – delicious!  I could eat one right now, for breakfast!

I have to admit, I enjoyed watching these two (lower left) perform sign language as much as I did watching the “real” show.  Beautiful – and so moving!

I still remember some pictures that I took of my little 5-year-old diva, Ashley, on her first visit to Walt Disney World, at this very location.  We stop here almost every visit for more photo ops:

Here are a few other “favorites” from our day at Hollywood Studios:

Yes, that really is the Rock ‘n Roller Coaster with NO PEOPLE in front of it!  Go figure!  This was mid-day too!  If anyone is looking for a Christmas idea for me, I’ll take a Lotso Pillow Pet.  Just sayin’ . . .

After a trip through one of our favorite attractions – the Great Movie Ride – and a short brush with fame helping to make a “commercial” (who knows?!) – we met up with my friend Kim and her family for the Backlot Tour.

We finished off our day with supper at the Sci-Fi Dine-In.  This was a new experience for us, and we loved it!