Making lists

I am a list maker.
If list making was an Olympic sport, I'd medal every single time.

I make lists for darn near everything.
Grocery lists.
To do lists for home and office.
Blogging lists - what I should blog about, what I might blog about, what I'll never blog about.
Twitter lists.
Christmas lists.
Packing lists for Disney.

Lists, lists everywhere.
I have notebooks and pens all over my house, just in case the urge to make a list suddenly hits as I'm watching television, or cooking dinner, or tweeting.

I'm a fan of lists..for the most part.

I like being added to some lists - you know, the ones that end in fun and frivolity.
Christmas lists.
Secret Santa lists.
Party invitation lists.
'Follow these people on Twitter' lists.

What I'm not a fan of is being put on negative lists - you know, the ones from which nothing good comes.
Sh*t lists.
"To be fired" lists.
Complaint lists.
Santa's naughty list.
Telemarketer call lists.
Spam e-mail lists.

So, to recap....
Positive lists = good.
Negative lists = bad.

You get the picture, right?
Good.
Now if you'll excuse me...I have some lists to make.

I'm no Pollyanna but...

OK, here's the truth.

This week was a real downer.

I won't lie.
My mood has been 'down' for the last five days.
I have done my best to smile and at least 'look' happy.

There is a method to my madness.
There is a reason I am staying upbeat.

I don't want to be negative.

There is NO reason to be negative.
I'm not angry.
Or bitter.
I don't see anything unfair about it.

Choices were made.
And quite honestly, it's time to move on.

Seriously.
Enough is enough.

I need to be positive.
I need to think good things.
I need to be surrounded by positive thoughts.

And so, I have picked myself up, sprinkled some pixie dust around, and I am moving forward.

I don't want to dwell on it anymore.
I don't want to wonder 'why' or 'what if'.
I don't want to be mentioned in any more lists.

I just want to move on.
And that's exactly what I'm doing.

Watch out world.
Here I come.

A dream is a wish your heart makes

Cinderella has always been my favorite animated Disney movie.

My love for the movie goes beyond the glass slippers, the fairy godmother, the handsome prince, and the beautiful dress.

I love the movie because the theme speaks to me - never give up on your dreams.

For the last four years, every September, my dream has been to be chosen as a member of the Walt Disney World Moms Panel.

Last year I was almost there.
My dream almost came true.
Last year I made it to the second round, only to have my dreams dashed when I didn't make it to round three.

But in the course of last year's application process I met so many amazing people - and these people are now my friends, my confidants and I couldn't imagine my life without them in it.

Fast foward to this September.

In the early morning hours of September 13, I sat at my computer answering three 100-word essay questions. I tried to explain why I love helping people plan trips to Disney and what my favorite 'planning tools' were. I tried to convey my love for Disney in 300 words or less.

And then I hoped and wished, and yes, even prayed that those questions had an extra sprinkle of pixie dust.

Yesterday, after four weeks of waiting and hoping and imagining 'what if', I found out that I would not be advancing to the second round.

My dream of the Moms Panel was over.

And unlike the movies there is no fairy godmother to change the outcome.
There are no talking mice who can steal a key to the Disney mainframe and add my name to the 'congratulations' e-mail list.

It is what it is.

And quiet honestly, I am devastated.

I cried last night.
I have cried today.
And I will likely cry tomorrow.

I am not bitter.
I am not angry.
Quite simply, I am just sad.

To me, the Moms Panel is more than just a "wow that would be so cool!" thing to do.
It's more than a 'bucket list' item to be crossed off.

And while this setback is not the end of the world, it does matter to me.
It matters more than most people know or understand.

My love for Disney does not define me, but it is something that I hold very near and dear to my heart.

And right now, that Disney heart is a little broken.

The Moms Panel is my dream and I want to see it come true.
The Moms Panel is MY glass slipper - and this year I was hoping it would fit.

However, the clock has struck midnight, the slipper didn't fit, and the ball is over for me.

For now, I can only hope that perhaps there will be another ball next year.
And maybe, just maybe, the slipper will fit.

Because after all, a dream is a wish your heart makes.

My ultimate family vacation

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So, have you ever thought about your 'ultimate' family vacation? Where would you go? What would you do? How many days/weeks/months would you be gone?

I think about this all the time.
Seriously.
Probably on a daily basis.

And, anyone who knows me will not be surprised at all with what I am about to type.

My ultimate family vacation would be this: two weeks at Walt Disney World.

I know, shocking!

But it's true.
Yes, I want to take the kids to see the Grand Canyon and Washington D.C., and I'd like to see Venice and Paris.
But if we're talking 'ultimate' family vacation - Disney is it for me.

Since this is my 'ultimate' vacation I'm going totally no holds barred.
No price restrictions.
Everything would be within my reach.

It would look something like this...

For week one we'd stay at Disney's Polynesian Resort - a suite would be just fine! For our second week we'd stay at Disney's Grand Floridian, of course continuing the theme of staying in a suite. (While I've stayed at the Poly before and LOVED it, I've never been lucky enough to stay at the Grand Floridian...but it's on my "Disney bucket list.")

We would spend those two weeks exploring every single inch of the four theme parks. And the two water parks. And Downtown Disney. We would leave no stone unturned. We would meet every character possible. And we'd ride every single ride. At least four times.

And the dining? Oh we're going big or going home! Top of the list - the chef's table at Victoria and Albert's (yes, the kids aren't old enough right now...but this is MY dream vacation, so this one time I'll pretend that they are 'of age' to dine at V&A). Then, California Grille. Le Cellier. Bistro de Paris. Jiko.

The best part of all this wonderful dining in my ultimate family vacation? I would not gain a single pound. Not one. And, I'd have a Dole Whip every single day.

In addition to the parks and water parks, I would 'let' my husband golf each course on property. And he would get to try his hand at the Richard Petty Driving Experience.

I would visit the Grand Floridian's spa (a few times).
The girls would be turned into princesses at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique.

And, I would take the Keys to the Kingdom Tour, a Segway Tour at Epcot, and the Pirates and Pals Fireworks Voyage.

Of course, because this is my ultimate 'dream' vacation - the crowd levels would be ideal and there would be nothing but sunshine and perfect temperatures for the entire two weeks!

So....that's my ultimate family vacation.
What's yours?


Don't forget to enter the “Do What You Love” Sweepstakes, for a chance to win your own ultimate family vacation. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

A totally epic Disney weekend

Let me say this first - whoever came up with the hashtag #epicoctober2010 was genius.

Why?
Because last weekend was epic.
Amazing.
Incredible.
And, four days later, I'm still exhausted (eight hours of sleep over a weekend will do that to a girl).

A recap of the weekend.....

Last Friday I arrived early at Detroit Metro, giddy with excitement because I was flying to Orlando at 7:25 p.m. .... and then at 4:30 p.m. Delta did what Delta does best - they messed with my travel plans. For some reason they decided to delay my flight until 9 p.m. ... meaning I wouldn't arrive in Orlando until 11:30 p.m.

I couldn't get on an earlier flight because it was oversold by EIGHT PEOPLE. Yes, Delta loves to fly...and it shows in the worst way. Because really, why just oversell a flight by one person when you can oversell it by 8? Way to be a go-getter, Delta.

After much waiting and hand wringing and tears .... I landed in Orlando at 11:30 at night and nearly RAN to luggage claim where my friends Jackie and JL were waiting.

Our plans for a 'girl's night out' had been dashed by Delta...but I was in Orlando and that's all that mattered! I was 'home' and with dear friends.

After a mere 4 1/2 (maybe 5) hours of sleep, I was up at 6 a.m. Saturday reading tweets from many more friends who were running the Halloween 5K at the Magic Kingdom. I wasn't tired...I was thrilled because I was going to Epcot and it was going to be a great day!

Arriving at Epcot at 9 a.m., I knew I had about 15 hours to fit more fun and friends than might be possible.

Some highlights:
- Finally meeting Kristin at the WDW Radio meet up .... we've been friends on Twitter since last year's Moms Panel application process and it was wonderful to finally meet in person!

- Meeting so many Disney friends from Twitter ... I won't try to list you all here...but here's a pic of a few of you:

Tweet, tweet -- a group of Disney Twitter friends!

- Soarin'. Enough said.

- FINALLY meeting two of the nicest, most magical Disney friends - Dean (@DisneyDean) and Frank (@DisneyFrankness). I smile each time I think of you and cannot wait to see you both again!


And if all of that wasn't enough, let's chat about the Disney Moms Panel meet - the reason I made plans to spend a mere 34 hours in Orlando.

The Moms Panel meet up.
Um, where to start? What to say?
There aren't words to explain how incredible it was to meet these people who embody the magic and wonder of Disney.

I saw friends from the panel whom I had not seen since the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration, and I met many panelists who I only 'knew' from Twitter or via our adventures last year during the Moms Panel search.

And. It. Was. Magical.

Me, JL, Jackie, and MaryJo .. faith, trust and a little bit of pixie dust...

The hour-long meet seemed to fly by and I know I didn't get a chance to say 'hi' to everyone. But I walked out of the meet on cloud 9.

And I could say more....but I'll leave it at that.
Cloud 9.

After the meet, JL and I walked (ran?) around World Showcase (it was the Food & Wine Festival, after all)...but sadly the booths were so crowded that we didn't stop to eat much. I say "much" because I did manage to find a short line in Morocco so I grabbed a kefta sandwich.

We soon decided to Monorail to the Magic Kingdom. And promptly got stuck. On the Monorail. For about 15 minutes. But we did make it to the MK - just in time for the Main Street Electric Parade! This parade is one of my best childhood Disney memories...so to see it again and hear the music....it was joyous.

My goals at the MK were this:
- See Don and Mary. Meet Chris and John. Ride Pirates and Haunted Mansion. See 'Wishes'. Shop.

I am happy to report that I met all those goals and a few more. I saw many other friends at the MK, was able to ride the TTA and was 'forced' to ride Space Mountain (thank you, JL).

By 11 p.m. I was exhausted. My feet were throbbing. And it was time to call it a night. My epic nearly-15-hour day in two parks was coming to a close. I shed a few tears earlier in the night during 'Wishes' ... but I felt OK as I left the MK. I wasn't sad - there were too many happy memories made that day to feel sadness. And I know I will be back soon.

To everyone I met/laughed with/hugged last weekend - thank you for making it the most magical day a Disney girl could have.

I adore you all.

And, I'll see you real soon.