Tag Archives: Magic Kingdom

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Animals!

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Day 270 in my adventures toward getting ready for Mickey and Walt Disney World in October.

Today’s plan was to investigate Disney’s Animal Kingdom.  I have a dvd all about it that is, admittedly, a few years old, but I know so little about it.  I spent one morning there several years ago.  We had to leave the park early to make it to Fort Wilderness for the Hoop-Dee-Doo Review.  (BTW: Seeing my brother in his Detroit Lions’ jacket and a tutu dancing across the stage was a highlight in my life!)

I really enjoyed our morning at Animal Kingdom, but I have never been back, for various reasons.  So…I wanted to study the layout and make some plans.  We have Disney’s Animal Kingdom down for one morning and one different afternoon/evening while we’re there.  I’m thinking for the morning Kilimanjaro Safaris, Festival of the Lion King, Kali River Rapids and Expedition Everest (for those brave enough–not me!)

And for the afternoon I’d like to explore DinoLand U.S.A. and Discovery Island.  I want to ride DINOSAUR and Primeval Whirl,  and I want to experience Tree of Life (It’s Tough to Be a Bug), and Finding Nemo: The Musical.

What do you think, Disney Pros?  Can it be done?  If it’s too much I’ll be happy with just wandering the grounds.  🙂

Meet you at the Kingdom!

BTW: Still waiting for my Magic Kingdom Starbuck’s mug.  I’m so excited!

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Wishes Fireworks Dessert Party

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Day 269 in my preparations to meet up with Mickey

Today’s plan actually happened last night.  I booked us for Wishes Fireworks Dessert Party.  So now on our first full day at Walt Disney World this October.  We will start the day out with an early breakfast at the Crystal Palace (or Crystal Cathedral if you prefer–that’s for you, Wayno!) at Magic Kingdom,  Then everyone can go wherever they want for the middle of the day.  Then we meet up at the Dessert Party back at Magic Kingdom at 9:20 pm and sit and enjoy warm and/or cool drinks and various desserts while we wait for and then watch the fireworks over Cinderella’s Castle.

In the middle of that first day, I have a date with Disney’s Old Key West Resort.  I want to swim, and I want to sit and sip a cool drink on the boardwalk at the marina.  I can just feel the sun warming my back as I read my Kindle.  I can just smell the local flora (and the chlorinated pool).  It will be magical.

Meet you at the Kingdom!

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Healing Hurts

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Day 268 in my limp toward Mickey

Healing hurts.  When you have major surgery, there is a long period of healing that follows your hospital stay.  Now I would love to be that person saying, “Oh, I’m great.  Everything’s fine.  It’s all good,”  but the truth is healing hurts.  Stabbing pains at time, sore bruises from IV failed attempts and successes, blood draws, bruises at and near incision sites, bruises from being inverted for robotic surgery, scratches from being held in place during robotic surgery, blisters from the tape they used on the gauze pads on me, ow, ow, OW, dang it!

The good days are very good and the bad days, well, they’re not so good.  This morning was a bad morning.  As Mike got up, made coffee and prepared to go lead worship with Damascus Road, I found another broken blister, had painful gas and every bruise and incision ached. I had had it!  So I cried and I cried and I cried.  And then I quit crying, took my Narco and slowly embraced the day.  So my plan for today, is to survive the day and count some blessings.

  1. God met me today during my devotions.  He always does, but this morning it was more obvious to me.  I am using the book, “My Grandfather’s Blessings.”  Very powerful and very moving.
  2. Jake ( my son) brought me breakfast after church: a Starbuck’s breakfast sandwich and an iced decaf skinny mocha.
  3. I have good pain meds to help me through this day.
  4. The kids are coming over for dinner tonight for a good visit and a pot roast with salad.
  5. And A.D. is on NBC tonight.  Loving that show!

So that’s quite a bit of blessings on a tough day.  God is good all the time!  Meet you at the Kingdom.

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So…What’s for Dinner?

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Day 267 in eating my way to a healthier me to meet up with Mickey

Today’s plan is to share a couple recipes.  Both are from Betty Crocker 30 Minute Meals for Diabetes.

Last night’s incredibly delicious dinner: Apricot-Almond Chicken

4 servings  2 Carb choices

Ingredients:

  1. Cooking Spray
  2. 4  boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 1 and a half pounds)
  3. one quarter tsp. salt (optional)
  4. one eighth tsp pepper
  5. one half cup apricot preserves
  6. 1 Tbls Low-sodioum Soy Sauce
  7. 1 Tbls Dijon mustard
  8. one half cup sliced almonds

Putting it together:

  1. Heat oven to 425 degrees F.  Line 15 X 10 X 1-inch pan with foil; spray foil with cooking spray.  Place chicken in pan; spray with cooking spray and sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Bake 5 minutes.
  2. Meanwhile, in a small microwavable bowl, mix preserves, soy sauce and mustard; microwave on high 1 minute or until preserves are melted.
  3. Stir preserves mixture and spoon over chicken; sprinkle evenly with almonds.  Bake 10 to 15 minutes longer or until juice of chicken is clear when center of thickest part is cut. (170 degrees).

We had it with a big veggie side salad and a good crusty, grainy bread.  Delicious!!

On tonight’s menu: Curried Turkey Stir-Fry

4 servings (1 and one quarter cups each) 2 Carb choices

Ingredients:

  1. 1 and one quarter cups uncooked instant brown rice
  2. 2 cups water
  3. one quarter tsp. salt (optional)
  4. 2 tsp cooking oil
  5. 1 lb. turkey breast strips for stir fry (OR turkey breast tenderloin, cut into strips)
  6. 1 medium red bell pepper, cut into thin strips
  7. 2 cups small fresh broccoli florets
  8. 10 and a half oz chicken broth (or veg broth, if you prefer)
  9. 4 tsp cornstarch
  10. 4 tsp curry powder
  11. one half tsp ground ginger
  12. one quarter tsp salt (optional)

Putting it together:

  1. Cook brown rice as directed on package, using water and one quarter tsp salt.
  2. Meanwhile, in 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat.  Add turkey; cook 5 to 8 minutes, stirring frequently, until browned.  Stir in red bell pepper and broccoli.  Cook 2 minutes.
  3. In small bowl, mix remaining ingredients.  Stir into turkey and vegetables.  Heat to boiling.  reduce heat; cover and cook 2 to 3 minutes or until vegetables are crisp-tender and turkey is no longer pink in center.  Serve over brown rice.

Doesn’t that sound amazing??  Can’t wait to try it.  Mike is still cooking, but I now can sit up and help cut stuff up.

We are changing the recipe a bit.  We have leftover roasted chicken breasts.  So Mike will cook the pepper and broccoli in the oil and add the cut up chicken to warm it through. (Step 2)

That’s it for today, friends.  Meet you at the Kingdom!

BTW: Thank you to Bro Gary and Sis-in-love Trudy for the beautiful, scrumptious looking fruit basket.  What a treat!!  Fresh pineapple, grapes, tangerines, apples and more.  Yum!

 

 

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Blessed To Be A Blessing

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Day 260 in my pilgrimage to the land of Mickey.

Todays’ plan was to attend Cafe Chocolat and keep all the plates spinning.  It was a wonderful day of laughter, tears, faith, fun, deeper friendships and the Word of God.  I came away renewed and forgiven.  Oh yeah, and exhausted.  I am sitting with my feet up with my newest furry friend. (Kitty…so soft!)

I am so grateful to God.  He is so faithful.  He showed up in a big way and blessed our time together.  And there was a miracle. I LOVE chocolate.  It is my personal crack.  It is an addiction that runs deep and is well-embedded.  And by the end of the retreat, I couldn’t even look at a piece of chocolate.  The smell made me feel sick to my stomach.  I would have never believed it was possible for me to reach a saturation point with chocolate; God gave me that gift today.  (I know it’s a very tongue-in-cheek miracle, however, for me it was a miracle none the less.)

Thank you dear friends and readers for all the support and especially the prayers.  I feel them deep inside me.  And thank you, Holy Spirit for the strength to see it through.

Meet you at the Kingdom!

“…to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.”  Ephesians 1:6 New International Version (NIV)  Such EXTRAVAGANT GRACE!

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Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

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Day 258 in moving toward Mickey

For years and years I lived my life in isolation, as much as possible.  I isolated myself and ate and tried to avoid stress.  In living my life this way, I was putting more stress on my body everyday as I added more and more and more pounds to my frame.

Part of changing that life pattern is taking on new challenges and pushing through to see them accomplished.  That’s why I took on the Women’s Retreat at church this spring.   So today’s plan was to push ahead and continue getting things set up and ready for Saturday.  I did this today.  Mission accomplished.

God has a tremendous sense of humor, doesn’t he?  Just as I take on this huge challenge, he lets me face an even bigger challenge.  The Big C.  My surgery is two days after the retreat, and I will be ready to sleep for a week when it’s all over.  🙂  Like The Message says in 2 Corinthians 12:10: “My grace is enough; it’s all you need.  My strength comes into its own in your weakness.”  I say, “Come, Lord Jesus.”  I expect great things at this retreat.

Meet you at the Kingdom!

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Pushing Through My Pain and Getting It Done!

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Day 257 in muscling my way to meeting up with my pal Mickey at the Magic Kingdom

Today’s plan was to set up the room for the Cafe Chocolat retreat this Saturday.  I set up six tables (4 round and 2 long), 5 chairs at each table.  Then I covered them with tablecloths.

Thank you, Lord, for Pat who is making the coffee and hot water for cocoa and tea, putting out water pitchers for the ladies, and making the centerpieces for the tables.  I seriously had a couple of nightmares about making these centerpieces.  Pat is a lifesaver!  Major mischief managed!

I was sweaty and wiped-out after setting up the room, but at the same time I felt a wonderful sense of accomplishment.  It always feels good to get active and bull some stuff around.  🙂

That’s it for today, Dear Readers.  Meet you at the Kingdom!

BTW: Thank you to my sweet Emi for sending me Method Mickey Mouse Foaming Wash!  What a treat to come home yesterday and find 2 bottles there waiting for me.  Love you to the moon and back Emi-Bean!  And of course James, too! You made my day!

 

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Reserved! (Reservated? Twitterpated?)

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Day 251 in the reality of Disney Dining Reservations and meeting up with Mickey (5 months and 27 days to go)

OK, so I was up at 4:30 am this morning ready to get online and make our meal reservations for October.  The online reservation system opens at 6:00 am Eastern Time, which is 5:00 am Central Time.  Am I tired now?  Oh, yeah!  But I’m jacked to have made the reservations.  It’s always a better idea to make reservations and then cancel the ones that you cannot do.

My plan for today is to share  the reservations that I was actually able to make:

Tuesday, October 13–Fly to Florida.  Dinner at Olivia’s Cafe at Disney’s Old Key West Resort (Our home away from home)at 7:15 pm

Wednesday, October 14–Breakfast at The Crystal Palace at Magic Kingdom at 8:15 am.  I had hoped for Cinderella’s Royal Table, but it wasn’t available.  I can’t be too disappointed though, because the Crystal Palace is beautiful and elegant and…oh who am I kidding…Winnie the Pooh is there!!

Thursday, October 15–Dinner at California Grill at the Contemporary Resort at 5:25 pm.  I had hoped to eat at Be Our Guest Restaurant that afternoon, but it wasn’t available.  (Fear not though it’s a-comin’.)  We have an early dinner so we can head to the Magic Kingdom for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween.  Woo hoo!

Friday, October 16–a day out of the parks.  Breakfast at Olivia’s Cafe at 10:15 am and Dinner at Artist Point at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge.  This is Mike’s favorite restaurant in Walt Disney World.  He and I have been there three times, and each time it has been a delicious, memorable, special experience.  Every time we’ve been there he has said, “We have to bring the kids here sometime.”  Maybe this will be the time.  But they are free to completely plan their own day, as they wish.

Saturday, October 17–Lunch at San Angel Inn Restaurante at EPCOT at 12:30 pm and Dinner at Tusker House Restaurant at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.  I had to swap out 50’s Prime Time Cafe at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, because of no availability  (But it’s coming later.)

Sunday, October 18–Lunch at Yak and Yeti at Disney’s Animal Kingdom at 2:00 pm.

Monday, October 19–a day out of the parks.  Mike and I will have Breakfast at Olivia’s Cafe at 10:15 am and Dinner at Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant at  Downtown Disney Area at 7:15 pm. The kids plan to go to Universal Studios this day, to experience all the Harry Potter-ness of it.  😉

Tuesday, October 20–Lunch at 50’s Prime Time Cafe at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at 12:40 pm and Dinner at Be Our Guest Restaurant at Magic Kingdom at 4:55 pm.

Wednesday, October 21– Breakfast at Olivia’s Cafe at 8:00 am.  Then we fly home.

So there it is in black and white, dear readers.  It should be fun!  Meet you at the Kingdom!

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Dining at Disney World in October

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Day 250 in my anticipation of all things Disney and my friend Mickey

Today’s plan was to lock down our choices for dining reservations in October.  TOMORROW WE ARE 180 DAYS OUT!!  Now any Disneyphile knows that at if you’re staying on Walt Disney World property, you can make your dining reservations 180 days out.  So after work today I quarantined myself at the computer, did some last minute research and put things in place.  Here is the plan:

Day 1 Dinner at Olivia’s Cafe at Old Key West Resort (Travel day)

Day 2 Breakfast at Cinderella’s Royal Table at the Magic Kingdom (And I want to meet up with Mickey for  photo later in the day!)

Day 3 Dinner at Be Our Guest at the Magic Kingdom

Day 4 Breakfast at Olivia’s Cafe at Old Key West Resort and   Dinner at Artist Point at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

Day 5 Lunch at San Angel Inn at EPCOT and Dinner at 50’s Prime Time Cafe at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Day 6 Lunch at Yak and Yeti Restaurant at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Day 7 Breakfast at Olivia’s Cafe at Old Key West Resort and Dinner at Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant at Downtown Disney

Day 8 Lunch at Tusker House at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Dinner at Tony’s Town Square at the Magic Kingdom

Day 9 Breakfast at Olivia’s Cafe at Old Key West Resort (Travel day)

And, as if that’s not enough the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival is happening while we’re there.  I hope to spend one morning and one afternoon there to check it out.  So excited now!

Meet you at the Kingdom!

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Easy Chicken and Bean Stew Koo-koo-ka-choo

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Day 249 in my plan to eat healthier to be more fit when I meet up with Mickey (5 months and 29 days to go)  OMGoodness!  It’s less than 6 months now.

Today my plan is to share a new recipe.  It’s from my Betty Crocker 30 Minutes Meals for Diabetes cookbook.  The recipe is for Easy Chicken and Bean Stew.  Here is the info:

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive or canola oil

1 1/2 cups frozen bell pepper and onion stir-fry (from 1-lb bag)

1 1/2 cups diced cooked chicken

1 can (14.5 oz) Italian-style stewed tomatoes, undrained

1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce

1 can (15 to 16 oz) cannellini beans, drained, rinsed (Can use kidney beans or black beans)

2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil leaves.

Directions

  • 1 In 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add stir-fry vegetables; cook 2 to 4 minutes, stirring frequently, until crisp-tender.
  • 2 Stir in chicken, tomatoes, tomato sauce and beans. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat to medium; simmer uncovered 5 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally and breaking up tomatoes, until thoroughly heated. Sprinkle with basil.

People, it is delicious!  And my blood-sugar level loved it, too!  Try it, you’ll like it.

Meet you at the Kingdom!

BTW: I lost the extra few pounds I had put on, so I’m back to my lowest in years.  #smileyface