Tag Archives: Disney World

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Life Gets in the Way

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Day 167 in my planning to be healthier when I meet Mickey at the Magic Kingdom (8 months and 21 days to go)

Confession time: I have not been very active lately.  I have been sitting through most of my day at work; then I have been going home and sitting to watch TV.  I blame it on the January blahs.  The skies have been gray for days, the weather cold and damp, and worst of all Christmas is over.  I know.  I can just hear you saying, “Get over it!”  Believe me, I’ve said it to myself over and over again.

Now here’s the conundrum: if I was exercising, I would feel better about all if this (exercise is an instant mood exhancer) AND I would be using the best tool possible to fight the stress at work.  Doh!  Can you say, “sabotage?’

My plan for the day was to be more active.  Every hour I wanted to get up and move around for five minutes, just to keep the blood pumping.  And if any opportunities came up to pitch in and get physical to help anyone out, I wanted to be on board.

I did OK with getting up and moving for a bit every hour.  But there came a huge opportunity to help out three people who were setting up the Fellowship Hall at church for a funeral luncheon on Saturday.  I wanted to be there.  I wanted to grab that job and run with it.  However, my plate was very full at work today.  I had to:

  1. finish and run Sunday’s bulletins and announcements, and then stuff the announcements into the bulletins
  2. finish and print 250 funeral bulletins
  3. finish and print the February newsletter, stuff the newsletter with two inserts, fold the newsletters and seal them with tape
  4. label the newsletter and prepare for mailing.

So today, life got in the way of my plan.  I’ve heard it said, “God laughs when we make plans.”  I think he may have had a chuckle today at my expense.  As tough as that is to take, I kind of like the idea of making God smile.  🙂

Meet you at the Kingdom!

 

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It’s a Matter of Portions

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Day 166 in my run toward meeting my favorite mouse, Mickey (8 months and 22 days to go!)

Today’s plan is to be more aware of portion control.  Too much of a good thing…well, is not such a good thing.  🙂  I think my portions have been inching up again.  So today I am going to pay particular attention to the portion sizes in all my meals and snacks.

My mom was an English war bride from WWII.  Her sister Phyllis visited us often and was a delight to spend time with.  Every time she was in the U.S., she would mention the massive portion sizes.  “No wonder everyone is so full blown here.  You people eat too much.”  I love her!  And she is basically right.  According to FRAC (Food Research and Action Center) 68.5% of American adults are overweight or obese.  34.9% of American adults are obese.  Something is just not right here, folks.  Between portions sizes and caloric make up of the foods we eat and lack of physical exercise , many of us have the balance wrong.

So today I will think on these things and determine to become more aware of them everyday in my life.  No one is going to do this for me.  I have to take control on my body.  I have to move it through space.  I have to feed it the right fuel in the right amount.  I know, I know, it sounds like me…me…me.  But really I need to love myself enough to stay on this.  I need to love myself, so that I can love others in the same manner, a healthier manner.

Meet you at the Kingdom!

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Capital “L” for Loser

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Day 164 in my rambling on as I wait to meet Mickey

I took a Disney quiz on Facebook today.  There were 10 questions on Disney movies.  For every question there were three true statements and one false statement.  I thought it would be a piece of cake.  (mmmmm…cake…)  Anyway, I took the quiz and bombed every question.  I did not get a single right answer.  Unbelievable!  The law of averages says I could have guessed at least one correct answer, right?  Nope.  Bomb-ola, ma-dola!

So today’s plan is to study up!  I have to find out more about this thing called Disney.  I am going to commit to watching at least one Disney movie a week until our trip to Walt Disney World in October.  I’m going to watch with purpose and determination to get myself juiced up and excited about all that I will experience on our trip.  I’ll consider it research and I’ll enjoy every minute.

Meet you at the Kingdom!

BTW:  Still staying sugar-free.  What a trip!

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My Disney Experience

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Day 163 in my learning how to do this new Disney thing for when I meet up with Mickey in October

Today’s plan was to investigate “My Disney Experience” and that is what I have done.  It is a wonderful site with a plethora of information on all things Disney.  It is an amazing resource for preparing for a trip to the most magical place on earth.  I found out about all sorts of experiences that are new since we’ve been to Florida.  There is something called the Tomorrowland Terrace Fireworks Dessert Party.  No, seriously…who would not want to try this out?  You watch the fireworks over the Magic Kingdom while sampling desserts and drinks…AND you have a seat to take it all in.  After a day of tromping around the parks, I can’t imagine a better scenario.  🙂

My Disney Experience is a fantastic resource for plotting out a trip to Disney.  You can investigate restaurants, attractions and experiences there.  And since it is a Disney site, the info is current.

Meet you at the Kingdom!

BTW: I purchased 5-day park hopper passes for everyone in our party as a Christmas gift this year.  After  I purchased them, info started to come out about MagicBands.  So I ordered us each a MagicBand from The Disney Store.  It just seems like such a cool way to access everything: open our door at Old Key West, get into the parks, pay for meals.  It’s just the coolest thing.  I got the bands and went into “My Disney Experience” to register them.  Then I run into trouble with one of the bands.  When I call to get it all straightened out, I am told, “Oh, those will be spare bands.”

“What do you mean?” I ask.

“You’e staying on property so your MagicBands will automatically be sent to you with your names inside them.  *(pause)*  But, it’s good to have a spare in case one gets lost.”

“Doh!” I think.  Wasted about $60.

Live and learn, my friends, live and learn.

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Saying Yes

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Day 162 in my inner ponderings as I make my way to Mickey

Today’s plan is to say, “YES.”  Tonight Mike and I will go to visit with some very dear friends of ours.  I love my “home time,” so I tend to say no to invitations.  But not today.  Today I say, “YES!”  I think that I have refused invitations in the past because of fears.  Fear of what the invitation will require: will I be up for this physically?  Fear of spending time away from home; my controlled environment.  Fear of having to “perform” or be the bubbly, happy, extroverted Donna: when in reality I am the controlling, reserved, shy, introverted Donna.  (Even I can hardly stand how narcissistic this sounds!)

But today, I say, “YES!”  Yes to visiting, Yes to life!  And most of all, Yes to Jesus and what he would have this day be for me.

Meet you at the Kingdom!

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Deconstructing Christmas

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Day 161 in my chores to get ready to meet Mickey

Today’s plan was to take care of my least favorite task of the year.  Worse than figuring out our taxes, worse than scrubbing the toilet, worse than driving to or from work in a blizzard.  Today I took down our Christmas decorations.  It’s always a drag.

I love the colors of the Christmas tree lights and my special light-up wreath on cold winter evenings.  I love the emotions that they elicit in me.  When I come home from work and put on the lights, I am in one of my happy places.  *sigh*

Now I need to focus on another of my happy places, so I keep on keeping on getting ready for Florida in October.  I have a physical reaction when I get into our room at Disney’s Old Key West Resort.  It is a home away from home, and I can feel the stress of daily life ebb away once I’m there.

So goodbye Christmas, and hello New Year, new me.  (Well, I’ll still be me, but you know what I mean.)

Meet you at the Kingdom!

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Same Ol’, Same Ol’

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Day 160 in my rambling on as I wait to meet Mickey

True confession time: it’s one of those days when I am seriously UNinspired.  I’m not blue or struggling or giving up.  I just can’t seem to give a rip today.  So my plan is to stay sugar-free, eat healthy, balanced meals and move around as much as possible.

See, I told you, nothing new and exciting today.  Just the same ol’, same ol’.

So I’ll share a memory with you.  It’s one that comes back to me often, so it had a profound impact on me at the time.  Our family was visiting some family friends at their camp.  I was about 10 years old at the time.  I was swimming with their daughters and having a wonderful time in the river.  When we came up to eat lunch, I overheard someone say to my mom, “Donna has quite a little figure developing.  You’re going to have to keep a close eye on her.  She’ll be getting all sorts of the wrong type of attention.”  Now at 10 years old I had no idea what “the wrong type of attention” was, but it didn’t sound good, so I made sure to wrap a towel around myself to cover up.  Was I doomed?  Was there no way to avoid this “wrong type of attention”?

Well, I don’t know, but I do know that I sabotaged that figure before the “wrong type of attention” could kick in.  🙂  It’s so strange to think about how powerful words can be, hey?

Meet you at the Kingdom!

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…Early to Rise

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Day 159 in my meal planning to get ready to meet Mickey at the Magic Kingdom

Today’s plan was to get up early and prepare a crock pot meal before I left for work.  I put together a pot roast: potatoes, carrots and water in the bottom, the browned, seasoned roast next, onions on top.  I can hardly wait to get home and open my front door.  I know it will smell delicious!  I’ll serve the meal with a salad and whole grain bread.

I like the challenge of balancing what is on my plate: half vegetables, one quarter meat (about 4 ounces), and one quarter grain/potato/rice, etc…

The tonight I want to do some more Disney research.  It pumps me up and makes me want to stay the course.  🙂

Meet you at the Kingdom!

BTW: I lost a dear friend yesterday.  She valiantly fought a voracious cancer.  She is in glory, and I am thrilled that she is beyond pain and suffering.  But, Betty, you will be missed!

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Planning for Success

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Day 158 in my tasty travels to meet Mickey at Walt Disney World

Today’s plan is to get back to some serious menu planning.  I need to get back to lean proteins, whole grains,  lower glycemic index choices, fruit and many, many vegetables.  So tonight I will plan out the next week, looking through my (low sugar) recipes.  Then I’ll put together a shopping list for this weekend.

On the menu for tonight: Weight Watcher’s Chili.  This is an old recipe that I picked up back in the 70’s.  🙂

Ingredients:

  1. 1 pound of ground turkey (or chicken or beef or soy mince)
  2. 1 small to medium chopped onion (depending on how oniony you like it)
  3. 2 to 3 cloves of chopped garlic
  4. 1 large can/bottle of tomato juice (I always pick low sodium or no salt added for juices and veg)
  5.  spices to taste (I use chili powder, red pepper, black pepper, oregano, basil, marjoram)
  6. 1 can dark red kidney beans
  7. 1 can black beans
  8. 1 can wax beans
  9. 1 can French cut green beans
  10. 1 can bean sprouts
  11. 1 can diced tomatoes
  12. 1 small can mushrooms
  • Brown the onion and garlic in a little oil
  • Add the meat and brown.  (If you use soy mince, add it after the tomato juice)
  • Add the tomato juice
  • Season with your spices of choice
  • Drain all canned veg (except diced tomatoes) and add to soup
  • Bring to a boil.
  • Then simmer for 20 minutes to an hour.

It’s so tasty!  And even better the next day.  It freezes well, so it makes several meals for Mike and I.  Yum!

Meet you at the Kingdom!

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Magic Band and Fastpass+

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Day 157 in my researching my way to meeting up with Mickey

Today I am going to research Magic Band usage and the Fastpass+ system.  It all seems so complicated to me.  I will scrutinize the internet for articles on the Magic Band, and I found a wonderful article in WDW Magazine titled “The Perils of FastPass+”, and I plan to read it this evening. Then I want to figure out how to link our Magic Bands to our reservation.  I would like to get that done!  Then I want to find where I put our Fastpass+ choices and map out a strategy for scheduling them.  I know it’s not so important to do them in order.  It’s more important to do the busiest ones first.  I’ll have to try for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Toy Story Mania, and Kilimanjaro Safari as soon as I possibly can, because they go so quickly.

So that’s on the docket for today.

Meet you at the Kingdom!