Wishing you all a very Happy Halloween!
Boo to YOU!
Boo to YOU!
10.31.2011
10.22.2011
At the pumpkin farm
Taking advantage of the lovely fall weather today, we headed to the local pumpkin farm.
The girls picked out 12, yes TWELVE, pumpkins for Halloween.
Three big, carving pumpkins.
Four small "pie" pumpkins that will NEVER be turned into pie.
Two really small. cute pumpkins.
Two small white pumpkins.
And...
One white "Cinderella" pumpkin.
I have no idea what we are going to do with all these pumpkins.
10.20.2011
Allergy Adventures - What I'm learning
So, it's been about a month since we first found out that Olivia had allergies. Serious allergies. When the pediatrician called and said "It's bad, really bad," my heart sank. A week later when we got the "official" word from the allergist about what exactly we were dealing it I sort of panicked. And ... well, let's just say I'm still processing it.
I am still unable to fully comprehend HOW this happened. Olivia has never experienced an adverse reaction to peanuts or sesame. And yet, she cannot eat anything made/processed with peanuts, tree nuts, or sesame.
Yes, I've shed some tears over this.
Yes, I feel like I'm navigating this on my own (with Kevin, of course).
And yes, I have become THAT mom.
You know...the mom who now reads every label at the grocery store and then calls my husband to say "well, I found ONE MORE THING Olivia can't eat." I'm the mom who told the "classroom mom" yesterday that I'm coming to the Halloween party in two weeks so I can "monitor" what Olivia is eating. (This other mom was GREAT about it..she's even making Olivia a special snack for the party). I'm the mom who emailed Arby's and asked WHY they didn't list sesame as an allergen in their food products.
(I received a great response from their head food safety guy - it's a legal thing...apparently Arby's legal team only allows EIGHT allergens to be listed. Sesame is #9. Stupid, right?)
Yep, I'm a mom of a kid with food allergies.
A few weeks ago at the allergist's office, as we were waiting the 20 minutes after her shots, some punk teenager decides to EAT A PACKAGE OF PEANUTS....IN THE WAITING ROOM. Let's just say I was suddenly a mama grizzly, protecting my "cub." What did I do? Well, I reported him to the nurses. While Olivia CAN be around people eating nuts ... who in their right mind would EAT THEM in the waiting room of an allergy doctor where people with food allergies could be sitting? Apparently, stupid was on special that day.
It can just be so overwhelming.
There are so many things Liv can't/shouldn't have anymore: anything with sesame seeds (bun, bagels), Chinese food, regular M&Ms, most candy bars, granola bars, "break and bake" cookies, bagged chocolate chips, some cereals, doughnuts, anything from the grocery store bakery, some ice cream (including no more trips to Cold Stone - just in case of "cross contamination"). And, I make sure I check out the allergens that could appear at restaurants.
We have found a great source of "allergen free foods" - Enjoy Life foods ... and, Olivia loves their chocolate chip cookies (and their bagged chocolate chips). She seems rather unfazed by all of this ... I think because a lot of what she can't have she never really ate (peanut butter, candy with peanuts, sesame seeds, etc.). And, while Halloween will be a challenge...I'm going to make sure Olivia has her "own" nut-free candy and we will have fun!
And now, I must prepare myself for the grocery store.
More labels to read, ya know.
I am still unable to fully comprehend HOW this happened. Olivia has never experienced an adverse reaction to peanuts or sesame. And yet, she cannot eat anything made/processed with peanuts, tree nuts, or sesame.
Yes, I've shed some tears over this.
Yes, I feel like I'm navigating this on my own (with Kevin, of course).
And yes, I have become THAT mom.
You know...the mom who now reads every label at the grocery store and then calls my husband to say "well, I found ONE MORE THING Olivia can't eat." I'm the mom who told the "classroom mom" yesterday that I'm coming to the Halloween party in two weeks so I can "monitor" what Olivia is eating. (This other mom was GREAT about it..she's even making Olivia a special snack for the party). I'm the mom who emailed Arby's and asked WHY they didn't list sesame as an allergen in their food products.
(I received a great response from their head food safety guy - it's a legal thing...apparently Arby's legal team only allows EIGHT allergens to be listed. Sesame is #9. Stupid, right?)
Yep, I'm a mom of a kid with food allergies.
A few weeks ago at the allergist's office, as we were waiting the 20 minutes after her shots, some punk teenager decides to EAT A PACKAGE OF PEANUTS....IN THE WAITING ROOM. Let's just say I was suddenly a mama grizzly, protecting my "cub." What did I do? Well, I reported him to the nurses. While Olivia CAN be around people eating nuts ... who in their right mind would EAT THEM in the waiting room of an allergy doctor where people with food allergies could be sitting? Apparently, stupid was on special that day.
It can just be so overwhelming.
There are so many things Liv can't/shouldn't have anymore: anything with sesame seeds (bun, bagels), Chinese food, regular M&Ms, most candy bars, granola bars, "break and bake" cookies, bagged chocolate chips, some cereals, doughnuts, anything from the grocery store bakery, some ice cream (including no more trips to Cold Stone - just in case of "cross contamination"). And, I make sure I check out the allergens that could appear at restaurants.
We have found a great source of "allergen free foods" - Enjoy Life foods ... and, Olivia loves their chocolate chip cookies (and their bagged chocolate chips). She seems rather unfazed by all of this ... I think because a lot of what she can't have she never really ate (peanut butter, candy with peanuts, sesame seeds, etc.). And, while Halloween will be a challenge...I'm going to make sure Olivia has her "own" nut-free candy and we will have fun!
And now, I must prepare myself for the grocery store.
More labels to read, ya know.
10.19.2011
Wordless Wednesday - Beach Club
On this very dreary, rainy, cold, Ohio fall day...you can find me in one of those beach chairs. Drinking a Pina Colava (my favorite Disney drink). Relaxing. And smiling.
10.15.2011
I'm still here
Yes, OK....I'm still here.
I haven't forgotten about this blog...despite the fact that I haven't written in a week.
This week was just a little too crazy, that's all.
Remember this post from September 13?
The one where I talked about being sick and dizzy?
Yes well...I was dizzy for THREE WEEKS and on Monday I was diagnosed with bronchitis, which I probably had since sometime last week.
So...yeah.
I didn't feel much like blogging this week.
I was too preoccupied with coughing up a lung or two.
Anyway...
I have several things to blog about, including our continuing "adventure" (sarcasm duly noted) with Olivia's newly diagnosed allergies and the fact that I am now training for the Walt Disney World "Royal Family 5K" in February. (Yes, I am going to RUN in a 5K. Shocking, right?).
More on both of those topics in later posts.
For now, I have to get moving.
Olivia is cheering this morning.
And it's currently 50 degrees outside with a wind chill of 44 thanks to 22 mph wind gusts.
I will be sitting OUTSIDE in this weather, dreaming of moving to Florida.
The things I do for my kids.
I haven't forgotten about this blog...despite the fact that I haven't written in a week.
This week was just a little too crazy, that's all.
Remember this post from September 13?
The one where I talked about being sick and dizzy?
Yes well...I was dizzy for THREE WEEKS and on Monday I was diagnosed with bronchitis, which I probably had since sometime last week.
So...yeah.
I didn't feel much like blogging this week.
I was too preoccupied with coughing up a lung or two.
Anyway...
I have several things to blog about, including our continuing "adventure" (sarcasm duly noted) with Olivia's newly diagnosed allergies and the fact that I am now training for the Walt Disney World "Royal Family 5K" in February. (Yes, I am going to RUN in a 5K. Shocking, right?).
More on both of those topics in later posts.
For now, I have to get moving.
Olivia is cheering this morning.
And it's currently 50 degrees outside with a wind chill of 44 thanks to 22 mph wind gusts.
I will be sitting OUTSIDE in this weather, dreaming of moving to Florida.
The things I do for my kids.
10.08.2011
Still wishing on a star
OK.
Where to begin?
How about the beginning.
Waaaay back in September 2007 I found a little blurb on the Walt Disney World website announcing the Walt Disney World Moms Panel .. it was going to be a group of "moms" whose passion for Disney made them the go-to Disney vacation planning expert in their family/neighborhood/office/city.
Of course, I applied.
A few weeks later I received an email saying "thanks for applying" but I wasn't chosen to move on. Repeat the same events for September 2008....with the same results. Both times I was bummed out, but I knew there would be another chance.
In 2009, just as the Disney online community seemed to explode, I again applied for the Moms Panel. This time, I made it to Round 2. I was thrilled. Elated. On cloud 9. I was thisclose to realizing my dream of being a member of the Walt Disney World Moms Panel.
During this time I was also becoming friends with some of the most incredible people I know ... we had connected through our love for Disney, but the connection was so much deeper. I count these people as my confidants, my sounding boards, my cheerleaders, but most importantly, my FRIENDS.
As anyone who reads this blog knows, I did not make it past Round 2 for the Moms Panel that year. I was, in a word, devastated. I really, truly felt like that was my year to make the panel. But, it was not meant to be.
Last year when September rolled around, it was once again time to apply for the Moms Panel. As much as I held out hope that I'd receive the coveted Round 2 email, I had resigned myself to the fact that my answers were not worthy of moving past the first round. And I was right. That being said, I was still crushed when I received the dreaded "thanks but no thanks" email.
This year I went into the application process with a renewed sense of faith, trust and pixie dust. I was ready to give it my all...and I really, truly thought I did. I let my love of Disney shine through in my answers..and yet, it still wasn't enough.
This afternoon we were shocked to discover that the Round 2 emails were going out for the 2012 Moms Panel search. On a Saturday. And so, I glued myself to my computer...simultaneously checking my email, Facebook, Twitter, and the DIS boards for about 90 minutes.
This year I was hoping, wishing, and hoping some more that I would at least make it to Round 2. That my love and passion for Disney would shine through in my 100 word answers. That I would have a chance.
That was not what happened. At 3:46 p.m. I received the "thank you" email. I knew as soon as I saw the subject line that my Moms Panel dreams were dashed once again.
As disappointed as I was last year, this year is different for some reason. I am shockingly more disappointed and sad this year. It's not a feeling of rejection, it's more a feeling of "what in the world am I doing/saying wrong?" and "why not me?"
Yes, I guess I am having a little pity party over here for myself.
This Moms Panel dream ... it's a big dream.
It's magical.
And it's wonderful.
And for another year, it's just a dream.
And quite honestly, it's a hard pill to swallow this time around.
I'm a firm believer in "if you dream it, you can do it"...but right now I have to wonder if maybe my dream is just unattainable. What if it's not a "realistic" dream, but is instead something will forever remain just out of reach? I know some of this is just me being cynical at this moment, but it's hard to feel completely positive tonight.
I want this so very much.
More than I've wanted anything in a very long time.
Maybe I want it too much?
Is it possible to dream too much?
To think the nearly impossible is almost possible?
I don't know.
What I do know is at this very moment MY dream, my Disney Moms Panel dream, is over for another year and I don't quite know what to do about it.
For the time being, I'm going to cry some more tears and then drown my sorrows in many Halloween Oreos.
And maybe next week, or the week after that, I'll allow myself to dream about the Moms Panel once again.
Where to begin?
How about the beginning.
Waaaay back in September 2007 I found a little blurb on the Walt Disney World website announcing the Walt Disney World Moms Panel .. it was going to be a group of "moms" whose passion for Disney made them the go-to Disney vacation planning expert in their family/neighborhood/office/city.
Of course, I applied.
A few weeks later I received an email saying "thanks for applying" but I wasn't chosen to move on. Repeat the same events for September 2008....with the same results. Both times I was bummed out, but I knew there would be another chance.
In 2009, just as the Disney online community seemed to explode, I again applied for the Moms Panel. This time, I made it to Round 2. I was thrilled. Elated. On cloud 9. I was thisclose to realizing my dream of being a member of the Walt Disney World Moms Panel.
During this time I was also becoming friends with some of the most incredible people I know ... we had connected through our love for Disney, but the connection was so much deeper. I count these people as my confidants, my sounding boards, my cheerleaders, but most importantly, my FRIENDS.
As anyone who reads this blog knows, I did not make it past Round 2 for the Moms Panel that year. I was, in a word, devastated. I really, truly felt like that was my year to make the panel. But, it was not meant to be.
Last year when September rolled around, it was once again time to apply for the Moms Panel. As much as I held out hope that I'd receive the coveted Round 2 email, I had resigned myself to the fact that my answers were not worthy of moving past the first round. And I was right. That being said, I was still crushed when I received the dreaded "thanks but no thanks" email.
This year I went into the application process with a renewed sense of faith, trust and pixie dust. I was ready to give it my all...and I really, truly thought I did. I let my love of Disney shine through in my answers..and yet, it still wasn't enough.
This afternoon we were shocked to discover that the Round 2 emails were going out for the 2012 Moms Panel search. On a Saturday. And so, I glued myself to my computer...simultaneously checking my email, Facebook, Twitter, and the DIS boards for about 90 minutes.
This year I was hoping, wishing, and hoping some more that I would at least make it to Round 2. That my love and passion for Disney would shine through in my 100 word answers. That I would have a chance.
That was not what happened. At 3:46 p.m. I received the "thank you" email. I knew as soon as I saw the subject line that my Moms Panel dreams were dashed once again.
As disappointed as I was last year, this year is different for some reason. I am shockingly more disappointed and sad this year. It's not a feeling of rejection, it's more a feeling of "what in the world am I doing/saying wrong?" and "why not me?"
Yes, I guess I am having a little pity party over here for myself.
This Moms Panel dream ... it's a big dream.
It's magical.
And it's wonderful.
And for another year, it's just a dream.
And quite honestly, it's a hard pill to swallow this time around.
I'm a firm believer in "if you dream it, you can do it"...but right now I have to wonder if maybe my dream is just unattainable. What if it's not a "realistic" dream, but is instead something will forever remain just out of reach? I know some of this is just me being cynical at this moment, but it's hard to feel completely positive tonight.
I want this so very much.
More than I've wanted anything in a very long time.
Maybe I want it too much?
Is it possible to dream too much?
To think the nearly impossible is almost possible?
I don't know.
What I do know is at this very moment MY dream, my Disney Moms Panel dream, is over for another year and I don't quite know what to do about it.
For the time being, I'm going to cry some more tears and then drown my sorrows in many Halloween Oreos.
And maybe next week, or the week after that, I'll allow myself to dream about the Moms Panel once again.
10.06.2011
Words of wisdom - Steve Jobs
I first saw the news last night via Twitter, on my iPhone, as Kevin and I were finishing our anniversary dinner.
Seeing the words "Steve Jobs is dead" literally took my breath away. And yes, I shed a few tears.
This man was a visionary and the ways in which he changed how we communicate on so many levels is an amazing legacy. And yes, I do think it is fair to say that he was our generation's Walt Disney (and many people would agree with me..including the commentators who said those very words last night).
It's sad to think of all the wonderful things that won't be created now that Steve Jobs is gone.
(Photo: I saw several people post this on Facebook today...so I "borrowed" it.)
10.05.2011
10.01.2011
Happy 40th Anniversary to the Magic Kingdom and Walt Disney World!
Wishing Walt Disney World and the Magic Kingdom a very happy 40th anniversary! You are the 'happy place' for millions of people...thank you for bringing so much joy and happiness to my family over the years!
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