Tag Archives: Disney

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19 Forever!!!!

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I have been stuck at 19 pounds lost for a couple of weeks now. Argh!!! I know I need to be happy with my 19 pounds. I’ve worked and fought hard for those 19 pounds. Yay, me, and all that, right?<SCREAM>

I keep telling myself that I’m building muscle, and muscle weighs more than fat. I keep reminding myself how much better I feel now than I did those 11 weeks ago. I keep reminding myself that I can walk upstairs without being completely out of breath now. I keep reminding myself that I am a strong, capable woman. I keep reminding myself that I can just keep doing this and eventually something, hopefully some fat, will shake loose. But this is frustrating!

So I ordered myself a Disney Halloween Spirit Jersey, to celebrate my hard work. It arrived today and cheered me up immensely. See the pictures? So pretty!

And so I’ll keep on keeping on to meet you at the Kingdom.

Donna

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Disney Dreaming

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Today I received a package in the mail. The return address showed that it was from Pixie Dust Delivery Service! My heart beat a little faster, my pupils dilated, and I let out an involuntary, “Woo hoo!”

A little over a week ago I messaged Amy at Pixie Dust Delivery Service and requested three, new Old Key West Resort things: a magnet, an ornament, and a shirt. (See photos below this blog.)

I really dig the new emphasis on the lighthouse, the palm trees and of course Mickey and Minnie Mouse! It was a real “treat myself” kind of moment and a much needed shot in the arm to my exhausted-from-working-out body.

You see, even though I’m being careful when I take my walks: knees slightly bent, rolling from heel through toes, tucking my pelvis under, staying as relaxed as possible, and above all breathing, breathing, breathing, I am tired! This is hard, sweat inducing, knees aching, ankles and hips protesting work! At my weight and at my age, a simple walk exhausts me.

This package today helps me to refocus, to embrace this new more active lifestyle, to savor healthier food choices. My trip to Disneyland Paris is ever closer to becoming a reality. And I am renewed in my determination to be a healthier me when I get there.

Meet me at the Kingdom.

Donna

P.S. Thank you to http://www.disneyfoodblog.com for the photos! This is my favorite blog, and I check it out every day.

P.P.S. Thank you to Amy of Pixie Dust Delivery Service! I’ve ordered many time from Amy, and she has never let me down. Check her out at http://www.pixiedustdelivery.com.

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merry christmas in july!

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Today I picked up a Disney Princess Musical Dancing Palace by Little People second hand through a local online marketplace. I brought it home then played with it with my youngest granddaughter. So fun! It felt like Christmas wrapped in Disney, wrapped in family fun.

In today’s featured photo you can see how much fun the baby was having with the palace and the figures. As soon as we would set the characters up to dance, she would pull them off of their places and bang them together while smiling and chatting.

At Christmas my oldest (3 years old) granddaughter will be here. I’m so excited to played with it with her, too!

Anyway it’s been a fun day. Meet me at the Kingdom.

Donna

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Turning 65 at Walt Disney World

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I’ve been thinking about turning 65 years old and becoming eligible for Medicare. It’s a year and a half away for me, but I’d like to celebrate it at Walt Disney World. I turned 60 there, and it just seems like this next milestone would be fun to be there, too. We wouldn’t be using our DVC points, because we’re saving those for Disneyland Paris in 2021. but I’ve always wanted to stay at Port Orleans French Quarter, and this may be the right opportunity to do so. Here’s what Disney has to say about it:

Revel in the romance and pageantry of New Orleans’s historic French Quarter at this Moderate Resort hotel, where cobblestone streets, gas lamps, wrought-iron balconies and fragrant magnolia blossoms evoke the Antebellum era and colorful Mardi Gras characters and jazz keep things lively.

We would take in the holiday sites, and go into EPCOT for one day so we could experience the Candlelight Processional.

A candlelight processional at Holidays Around The World at Epcot

Hear the stirring story of Christmas as told by a celebrity narrator, and accompanied by a 50-piece orchestra and massed choir. 

The rest of the time we would wander our resort, walk around and explore Disney Springs more thoroughly, book dining reservations at places we’ve never been before, and chill.
Sounds like fun, right? It’s something fun to think about anyway.
Meet you at the Kingdom.
Donna
P.S. I finally reached the 10 pounds off mark. It took nearly four weeks. It’s a hard win. This is the toughest weight loss ever for me. Perhaps in the long run, it will be the best. Here’s hoping.
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Jasmine 2.0

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I went to see the live action movie Aladdin, yesterday. It was fantastic! This version of Jasmine is much stronger than the Disney cartoon version. SUPER SPOILER ALERT: She is so strong, and she actually becomes the Sultan by the end of the story! Yay, for women’s empowerment, and yay, for Disney, for letting a princess be more. She is by far the most qualified for the job. The realization that things had to change in the kingdom is a slow burn throughout the movie. I left the theater in a great mood. The music is amazing. It always has been, but the new songs are a perfect fit for the new story. I want to see it again. Maybe I can talk Mike into seeing it. 🙂

Meet me at the Kingdom

Donna

P.S. Thank you to Screenrant for the fantastic photo above.

P.P.S. I am six and a half pounds down since restarting Noom.  Since I am 63 years old, and have been on the program for a little over a week, I am pretty happy with that result.

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Love, Tears and Thankfulness

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Today was our last full day at Disney’s Old Key West Resort. We had tickets for a park, but only Jake went in today. He chose Disney’s Hollywood Studio so he could ride Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, his favorite ride. As he entered the gate who should he see waiting there? Daniel Carlson, a dear family friend! What are the chances?? They chatted for a bit as Daniel waited for his friends to show up. Incredible! It’s a God thing.

The rest of us stayed at the resort to chill and begin packing. Ida seemed to have a low-grade fever and Linnie is still recovering from the flu. It was a nice low key day.

Then it was time for Emi, James and Ida to catch the bus to the airport. With plenty of hugs and tears to go around, I thanked God for this time together. I’ll be looking forward to our next time together, perhaps as soon as March.

Mike, Jake, Eliza, Linnie and I wandered up to Turtle Krawl for dinner. With burgers, chili dogs, and pulled pork sandwiches for dinner from Good’s Food to Go and drinks from Gurgling Suitcase we whiled away the hours in the warm evening Florida breezes. It was a perfect ending to an emotional day.

Well, Dear Readers, I am one Disney-exhausted camper. So delighted for this incredible adventure. And yet ready to go home tomorrow. Home, where Mary Ann, our kitty cat, waits for me.

Until the next time…meet me at the Kingdom.

Donna

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Animal Kingdom Day

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On a cloudy Tuesday we made our way to Animal Kingdom. We rode Na’vi River Journey for the first time. It was magnificent! It was like being immersed in a whole new world. The colors and the vegetation, the huge insects and animals, and the sound track of life in Pandora blended into most memorable moments.

Then it was on to Kilimanjaro Safaris. We have ridden this many times, but because there was cloud cover and it was feeding time, we saw more animals than we had ever seen before. I always love seeing the flamingoes, and there were lots of them out and about. Ida loved the rhinos, with their big horns, instead of noses.

And one of the highlights of the day was a Memory Maker moment. Jake became Rafiki and baby Elinor became Simba. It was magical!

Then we had a delicious dinner at Yak and Yeti. Oh, that mango pie! And we tasted a new favorite: the green bean appetizer. So good!

Another lovely day at Walt Disney World!

Meet me at the Kingdom!

Donna

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A Break in the Action

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Today we took a day to chill out and appreciate our resort. It was glorious! Some swam, some rode a bicycle built for four, some enjoyed shopping at Disney Springs.

Then Mike treated us all to an amazing dinner at Artist Point, an Arts and Crafts inspired restaurant at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort. It was a fun adventure, too, because we took a bus to Magic Kingdom, then transferred to a boat to the lodge.

The food there is northwest inspired. My dinner was buffalo steak and farrow with crispy Brussel sprouts. We enjoyed an artisanal cheese board for starters. Then we capped off our meal with two desserts which we all shared: creme brûlée and wild berry cobbler with coffee. Delicious!

What a lovely, decadent day! I am thankful.

Meet me at the Kingdom!

Donna

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Magic Kingdom Day

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Day two of our Walt Disney World adventure has been so incredible!

  1. Character breakfast at Crystal Palace in Magic Kingdom. Ida was completely traumatized by the arrival of Winnie the Pooh. “Too big!” She begged to be cuddled by her mum and hid her face until Pooh went away. Tigger-same thing. Piglet-a little more interested. Eeyore-not so scared, and Ida didn’t hide her eyes.
  2. We rode Peter Pan’s Flight, and Ida and James were a bit scared. “Too dark.”
  3. We rode it’s a small world next. Ida dug it!
  4. We rode Winnie the Pooh. Ida thought it was OK, but a bit too bumpy.
  5. Finally we rode Under the Sea-Journey of the Little Mermaid. When we finished, Ida said, “Really cool!” Success at last!
  6. We finished our day with a swim and dinner at Olivia’s.

What an incredible day! What an incredible time with family! What a beautiful place!

Meet me at the Kingdom.

Donna

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We’re Here!!

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We are at Disney’s Old Key West Resort, all settled into our villa. Thank you, Jesus!! Three years of planning all come down to this day. Our flight was good. The Conch Fritters at Good’s Food To Go were delicious! Our luggage showed up at our room as if by magic. And we’re getting groceries delivered any minute now. Emi, James and Ida are due soon. I am so grateful! More news tomorrow.

Come on down and meet me at the Kingdom.

Donna