I'm going to Disney World!

As any "regular" reader of this blog knows, I kinda sorta LOVE all things related to Walt Disney World resort in Florida and Disney in general. It's my happy place. I cannot get enough Disney. (Yeah, some might say a 12-step program is in order, but whatever).

This time next week I'll be on my way to the airport, ready to board a flight headed to, you guessed it, Disney World. But this isn't just any old trip. Oh no. Next weekend could quite possibly go down in the history books as one of the best weekends EVER at WDW.

I'll be spending the weekend with my dear friends Kristen and Jackie in a Global Resort Homes vacation home (our sponsor for the accommodations!) and we'll be participating in the Tangled Royal Family 5K race on Saturday morning. And eating at some of the best restaurants on property. And spending days in the parks. And sipping wine while we sit in our private hot tub at the vacation home.

And well, I haven't been THIS excited about a trip in quite a while.

OK. Yes, I am always excited about going to Disney with my family (that's a given, right?)...but this is different.

I desperately NEED this trip.
With my friends.
Having "girl" time.
Just being ME.

As many of you know from reading this blog for the last year or so, things haven't been all peachy-keen-bed-of-roses-wonderful around here. From everything that happened with the wicked witch in her green polyester sash, to the job search that is never ending....I just haven't felt like "me" for quite a while.

What I need is some "me" time. Some time to hang out, have fun, laugh a little, and forget (for just a few days) about all the other crap. I want a few days where I don't have to think about the job search or laundry or grocery shopping.

That is what next weekend is all about.
This time, it really is all about me.
And I'm OK with that.

This all came about last fall. After (once again) not advancing to the next round for Disney's Moms Panel, a discussion was started on Twitter between myself, Jackie, and Kristen that we needed to DO SOMETHING FUN! We tossed around the idea of attending Blissdom, but eventually settled on the Princess Half Marathon weekend at Disney.

Thanks to Kristen's blogging brilliance, we were able to partner with Global Resort Homes and host a giveaway on our blogs between Thanksgiving and Christmas. As part of that partnership, Global Resorts is sponsoring our accommodations for the trip - and the house we're staying in? Yeah, it's absolutely AMAZING. I cannot wait to take photos and share it with all of you.

As for the 5K? Well, again last fall, I decided that I wanted to participate in a runDisney event. I bought running shoes. I started "training" with the Couch to 5K app, and then (1) I got sick, (2) it got cold(er), and (3) life got in the way. So...instead of running the 5K as initially planned, I am walking the 5K. But, it's still 3.1 miles. And we still get a medal at the end. And I've never been more excited about walking in my entire life. (And maybe next year I'll actually RUN the Princess Half Marathon!)

There are so many friends I cannot wait to see next weekend - friends I haven't seen in a while and some friends whom I have yet to meet IRL. There will be incredible amounts of hugging and laughter FUN with my friends.

And that sounds perfect. 

(And if you want to follow along on my 5K "adventure" be sure to follow me on Twitter - @TraciLeigh)