Tag Archives: Magic Kingdom

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Disney Vacation Club Fun

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Day 32 in my quest to meet up with Mickey

Today is a sopping wet, gray day here in Lake Bluff.  We are promised severe thunder storms later on today.  It’s a morning that has spawned tornadoes and flooding throughout the Midwest.

If I had my way, my plan for today would be to read and nap the day away.  However, I don’t see how that would get me ready for our Walt Disney World trip in October 2015.  So, here’s my plan: to try to reverse some of the negative energy that is pressing on me today, I will do Tai Chi after work.  Then to work my arms a bit extra, I will do my Shake Weight.  (tee hee: see previous blog entries about Shake Weight)

We are members of the Disney Vacation Club, and we love, love, love it!!  Old Key West has become our home away from home.  With 150 points Mike and I and the kids/spouses can go to Florida every three years and stay in a three bedroom Grand Villa in the heart of Walt Disney World for over a week.  Woo hoo!  I thought it was 7 nights, but I realized yesterday in looking more closely at our points that even though we used a few points this year, we can still stay for 8 nights/9days when we go.  I am so-o-o jacked!!

And so it goes, dear readers.  Meet you at the Kingdom!

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More Moving

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Day 31 in my quest to move toward Mickey

When I last spoke with my Health Coach we set two goals for the next three weeks:

  1. When I am at work I will get up and move for five minutes out of every hour.  I can accomplish any tasks I wish as long as they involve standing and moving.
  2. On days when I am not working (Sundays excluded), I will spend at least five minutes of every hour standing and doing some household task.

Those are lofty goals for me.  But I just feel the need to get up and move more.

Here’s today’s plan: It’s a work day, so I’m working on the 5 minutes up for every hour at my desk today.  I can feel the difference.  It becomes much easier to get up and move when I haven’t been planted in my chair all day.

I just heard on the news this morning that “Sitting is the new tobacco.”  It’s the next big thing that is bad for our bodies.  Seems like I’m getting on this just in time…58 years later.  🙂

Thank you for reading, dear friends!  Meet you at the Kingdom!

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Choosing Wisely

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Day 30 in getting ready to meet Mickey at the Magic Kingdom

My work as a church secretary has been rather challenging this summer.  There has been major construction at the church building, so at times it has been very loud and smelly (paints, varnishes and glues) at work.  Now at last, things are pretty well put back together and the place looks so fresh and new.  I dig it!

However, I came to work with a leftover piece of salmon and potato last week for my lunch.  When I went to microwave it, the microwave was not only not working, it was missing.  😦  That was a very interesting cold lunch.  Not to be repeated.

So today I didn’t bring a lunch.  My plan for today was to go to McDonalds and pick up a salad for my lunch.  Not a Big Mac, not fries, not a quarter pounder with cheese, not a fish sandwich, not Chicken McNuggets, etc…etc…  And I did just that.  I picked up a salad with grilled chicken and savored every bite.  I didn’t even buy a drink, because I had brought a bottle of water from home.  It was delicious and satisfying.

I usually bring an apple to work everyday, too.  So this afternoon when I get home from work, I will enjoy my apple with peanut butter on it.  Yum!  I’ve gotten to a place now where I prefer peanut butter whose only ingredient is peanuts.  What a concept!

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

BTW: The microwave is being reinstalled tomorrow.  Yay!  Leftovers for lunch again.

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Mickey Drive-By

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Day 29 in tangoing with Mickey

You guys, I am so excited! Today Mike and I played/sang with Damascus Road, the contemporary band at our church.  It was Rally Day, so it was a full service with organ, choir and the band.  Very celebratory.

When I went into the church office to see if there was anything left on my desk for me to do while at church, there was a package there.  Inside was a “Sparkle Mickey” which is a TY Beanie Baby Mickey Mouse!  He has sparkly red trousers, sparkly gold shoes and sparkly silver gloves, a la Michael Jackson.  LOVE IT!  There was also a card which reads: “Thanks!  I’m looking forward to seeing you.  Keep up the good work, and thank you for being my friend.  I will be waiting here for you.  Love, Mickey.”

Can you even stand it????  A Mickey Drive-By!  What a lovely and inspiring gift from a lovely and inspiring friend!

My plan for today was to go to the church picnic, and walk right by the dessert table.  Now these are not just any desserts.  These are one inch squares of divine deliciousness from the Picnic Basket in Libertyville, all sorts of chocolatey, coconuty, lemony, sugary goodness.  In years past I would help myself to anywhere from four to six of these delicacies.  As I thought about it this morning, my resolve was waning.  I could feel the draw of the dreamy dessert table.  Then…I found Mickey, and I knew that for today I could walk right by that table without a second look.  And guess what, faithful readers,…I did just that!  I’m still sugar-free four weeks later!

VICTORY!  Thanks for reading.  Meet you at the Kingdom!

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Time to Tidy

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Day 28 tidying up for Mickey

Today’s plan is a very simple one: I will spend at least five minutes every hour (until Mike comes home) up and about tidying some corner of my home.  It’s good for the house, and it’s good for me.

I charged my Fitbit last night and will wear it today to see how much I walk.  And in honor of dusting it off and putting it back to work, I will take a little walk today.

This morning I woke up early to prepare a pork roast for the crock pot.  Today’s new recipe is Slow Cooked Pork Carnitas (Mexican Pulled Pork).  It smells delicious.  I am going to steam a bunch of broccoli and cook some Cilantro Lime Rice to go with it.  Yum!  (Thank you skinnytaste.com for the recipes for the pork and the rice!)

Busy day today, but I’m up for the challenge.  Meet you at the Kingdom!

 

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Stepping to the Kingdom

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Day 27 in walking toward Lake Buena Vista

I had a great call with my Mayo Clinic Health Coach last night.  He encouraged me, and let me know that I am on the right track.  It makes such a difference when a complete stranger knows what I am up to and sees the value in it.  I feel a renewed sense of purpose, and I have a clearer vision of where I want to be in 13+ months.

Here is my plan for today: I will go over my notes from last night’s discussion with my Health Coach, and devise a plan of action to take the next steps…literally, the next steps.  I want to increase the number of steps I walk each day.  It’s time to break out my dusty Fitbit and start counting my daily steps again.  Fitbit is a fabulous tool that keeps count of the steps you take when you wear it.  It does a lot more than that, but that is how want to use it for now.

The kids gave Mike (my very amazing husband) a Fitbit for Father’s Day.  He set his goal at 10,000 steps a day.  He rarely walks less than that, and several times the Fitbit has called him an overachiever for walking way more.  Case in point, last night he got a message from his Fitbit because in the course of his work day, he had walked over 13,000 steps.  Wow!  I figure he’ll be fine walking around Walt Disney World.

Me?  Not so much.  Not yet.  But that’s why I’m here blogging, right.  I still have 13+ months to get myself walking more.  So, here’s to more…steps that is.

Thank you for taking the journey with me.  Meet you at the Kingdom!

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Working Toward Wellness

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Day 26 as I walk towards a Mickey meeting

Whew!  I had a pretty rough couple of days.  Today I am fever-free, and my stomach feels much better.  So…hi ho, hi ho, it’s off to work I go. **whistle* Hi ho, hi ho.

Today I am being very gentle with myself as I try to recover the energy that was sapped away the last couple of days.  So, here’s the plan: 1) I am moving around at work as much as possible.  2) I ate a wonderful left-over salmon lunch.  3) I will chat with my Health Coach tonight and make a plan for the next few weeks.  4) Tonight after a rehearsal, Mike and I will dine out.  I will have a salad with dressing on the side.  5) I will get a good night’s sleep tonight and pray that I have more oomph tomorrow for bigger and better things.

Thank you for your kind thoughts and prayers the last two days.  Meet you at the Kingdom!

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Better Choices

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Day 22 of dancing toward Disney

Here’s today’s plan: I would like pancakes with lots of syrup and butter for breakfast.  But today I am having an egg-white omelet loaded with spinach, mushrooms, roasted red peppers and a little low-fat mozzarella cheese, served with fruit and a piece of rye toast.  I won’t regret the flavor, and I will remain sugar-free today.  I can do that just for today.

Then I will shop for the healthy, low-fat, low-sodium, sugar-free ingredients to prepare our new recipes for the week.

I thought eating this way would be so bland, but Mike and I have found the opposite to be true.  We are thoroughly enjoying the natural flavors of foods.  And we find ourselves really looking forward to dinner-time and our chance to just sit and taste the new recipes.  Who knew?

Today’s particular Disney dream?  Sitting at Olivia’s Cafe at Old Key West with Mike and the kids, sipping  a cup of coffee and nibbling conch fritters.  I can just feel the stress leaving my body thinking about it.

Meet you at the Kingdom!

BTW: In only two more weeks, I will have made my original commitment of five weeks sugar-free.  Who’d a thunk?

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Trying a New Recipe

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Day 19 of Disney dreaming

Today it’s all about the recipe.  For dinner tonight Mike and I will have baked meatballs.  I have never baked a meatball in my life.  I’ve always fried them.  But I found a new recipe, and I thought to myself, “Self, try it; you might like it.”  🙂  So that’s my plan for the day: baked meatballs with steamed asparagus, boiled potatoes and fresh veggies with hummus.

Note to self: for October 2015 Disney trip instead of a Mickey Mouse ice cream bar one day (Mike’s absolute favorite thing to do at Disney), I am going to try a Dole Whip.  Have you ever tried one?  I hear they are amazing.  And maybe a few less calories than the ice cream bar?  What do you think?  I’ll try to research that.

Anyway, here’s to nibbling healthy!  Meet you at the Kingdom.

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Nothing new or fancy

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Day 18 on my way to rendezvous with Mickey.  🙂

Well, folks, the title says it all.  Here’s the plan: nothing new or fancy today.  I will eat healthy today.  I will avoid sugar today.  I will move more at work today.

You know, moving this much weight through space is no small task.  (Please, excuse the pun.)  My former work partner once told me, “They say you should do some sort of weight bearing exercise each day.  Well, moving this body through space is weight bearing exercise.”  I laughed out loud.  But it makes you think.  I know I have to move more to get the energy to move more to get the energy to move more.  Wait…what?  It’s an odd thing really.  When we move more, we draw oxygen deeper into our bodies/systems, and it gives us more energy, more oomph.  I WANT more oomph.

I want enough oomph to stroll the trails at Old Key West, to walk at Disney’s Animal Kingdom without being immediately exhausted, to walk all the way from the bus, to and through, Cinderella’s Castle at the Magic Kingdom.  Maybe even straight to It’s a Small World.  Do not pass go; do not collect $200.  I love this big Disney dreaming.  I’m willing to work as hard as I have to, to make these dreams/visions come true.

Thank you, Mouse-fans, Disneyphiles and Donna supporters, for reading.  Meet you at the Kingdom!