Florida in July (part 2)

I got up kind of early (not really) and went for a 4 mile run around the Downtown Disney area.  It was not crowded at all either when I went back after it just opened to pick up a coffee mug for someone who chipped theirs.  I loved the topiary of Lady and the Tramp so I had to take a photo.  

 We checked out of our hotel that we got a fantastic deal on and was just across the street from the entrance to Downtown Disney.  We ate breakfast at the Sizzler.  I am glad we tried this place because I remember them referencing it on Full House and was always curious.  Not a favorite of mine (most all you care to eat buffets are not).

 We stopped at a nearby Target to check out their Disney merchandise since the ones near Disney carry a lot of it compared to a "normal" Target.  Mom bought a chocolate chip cookie that got a little melty in the heat and dripped down her face.  When she licked it off her fingers she couldn't figure out why more appeared on her fingers.  Then she took a selfie.

 She always has me cracking up.  There was an RV place along the highway and part of their advertisement is this:

 I thought it looked cool on the way up to Disney so I made sure to take a picture on the way home since I was too slow on the way there.  We stopped at SparkleSkirt head quarters on the way back to Debbie's since a custom my mom had ordered was due in to the store in the next day or two.  We totally lucked out as her custom and my custom were in the store fresh from the sewing facility.  Whomp, whomp going home with a total of 5 skirts for me and a pair of mudd buster shorts.

 Love the sign on the bridge as we leave Tampa for New Hampshires apartment.  They got a massive downpour that afternoon with crazy loud thunder and basically no lightning (that I saw).  She has a great little corner apartment that overlooks the pool and courtyard type are so it is quiet.  We called it an "early" night and took a nap before going to a decent pizza place and then bed.

mini-vacation to Florida

My Momma and I had a mini-trip to Florida to visit Miss New Hampshire.  We were a little delayed getting into the Tampa airport but finally made it and settled in at Debbie's around 2:30am.  This would be a whirlwind trip since we arrived Wednesday early am (our 2:30 bedtime) and departed at 6am Saturday.  Plenty of time for my mom and her best friend to get into trouble and for me to bail them out (trouble, yes.  bailing out, no--thankfully).

We started our Wednesday off by sleeping in before heading to SparkleSkirt headquarters.  I am obsessed with my SparkleSkirts and this was on the way to Disney so we just had to stop.  I loved looking at the rows and rows of skirts and picking out a few new lovelies to take home.

 Of course they have a red carpet down the center of their warehouse.  My mom and Debbie decided to try on a skirt.  Debbie came out of the dressing room and was very surprised by how comfortable it was.  Both of them left with a skirt and proceeded to wear them the rest of the afternoon and very much enjoyed being "hands free."  Meaning they didn't have to carry a purse or other stuff since they shoved it in the leg pockets and waist band zippered pocket.

 I was excited to see this sign:

 We also stopped in the Disney-esqu town of Celebration to go to the RawThreads retail store.  RawThreads is a bamboo clothing place.  Their shirts are beyond amazing for comfort.  Still not sure if I want to run in one but they are so soft and cozy for wearing around.  I saw the Disney Vacation Club building (and other buildings in the area) that reminded me very much of classic California around the time Disney was building his Disneyland.

 The very BEST sign in the world.  Yup, we went to Disney World.  We did not go to any of the parks but we did go to Downtown Disney so I could get my Disney fix.  We did some shopping and then I had the brilliant idea that I would venture on my own if mom and Debbie didn't want to come with me. I was going to go to a resort and catch the Magic Kingdom fireworks and come back.  Lucky for me they decided to go on this adventure.

 We ended up sitting on the beach at the Polynesian resort and having dinner and watching fireworks.  While waiting for fireworks they had The Little Mermaid playing on the beach.  I haven't seen the movie in a long time and it was nice to catch a little bit of it.  Unfortunately they had to end the movie early (after the intermission for the fireworks) due to a storm in the are.  I guess we were also very lucky since some lady said it was the first time all week they had fireworks cause of rain and storms.

I was a very happy girl to have a little bit of my Disney fix and am very excited I get to go back for the races in January.  The only thing that would have been better would be if they had Dole Whips but due to renovations they did not.  This was just day one of our adventures with Miss New Hampshire in Florida.

My 32nd Birthday

I will start off by saying that yes, I am a spoiled princess and I can be very moody.  Why would my birthday be any different?  Of course most of the family showed up at my parents for breakfast.  My mom does bacon, eggs and pancakes most days.  Today my sister stepped in and made crescent roll French Toast.  And since I am a spoiled princess I wanted regular French Toast so my sister made that for me and called me a piggy since I wanted 3 slices.  I love French Toast and could eat it every day.  Mind you I don't like bacon and didn't have any other breakfast goodies.  

 After breakfast people just hung around the yard and Michael climbed all over his car.  In and out, stand on the seat, sit down, turn the key, attempt to "squeak" the horn.

 I had him open our other gift.  He loved gift number 2 from us.  A box of tissues that he promptly started to pull out one at a time.  Very gently he pulled them out and left them all over the place.

 It is totally magical little dude how they keep coming out of the box.  They seem to be never ending.

 Manfriend and I took a walk up to the lake and enjoyed the cool temperatures and breeze.  The lake was still kind of rough but not as bad as the day before.  My mom let some Ben & Jerry's Triple Caramel Chunk ice cream get soft and put it in an Oreo pie crust, drizzled with hot fudge for my cake.  My moody self kicked in and complained about the hot fudge ruining the ice cream since it took away from the slight caramel flavor.  She was really worried about not even being able to make me a cake.  I was surprised that she did this for me and am thankful she did, although I told her it was technically a pie (told you I was in a mood).

 I took a nap on the couch and my parents took a nap on the hammock outside.  That night was the poker game that usually takes place on the 4th.  There is a new winner in town, Mr. Lucky (my dad).  He won $20 (which is small for the game that usually has the winner taking home about $80+).

 The first one out was a shocker to all.  Manfriend was the loser and winner of the poop.  Must be because I didn't sit in the cottage and "cheer" for you.  I chose to watch Aladdin on the projection screen set up that they have outside for night movies.  My feet got about 4 bug bites each and those are the only bites I have.  Lucky for me they only bother me when I put on my shoes for a run (grrrr).

 And, since I warned that I am a spoiled Princess I received these adorable t-shirts from my Momma and Papa Bear.  They are just perfect for me and I look forward to wearing them all the time.

 I was also given some SparkleSkirts.  yay for running stuff that is useful and that I love.  I was also given a jar of homemade strawberry jam in a wine bag.  They were hoping to trick me but some liquor was given to me a few weeks ago (Firefly Sweet Tea vodka--delicious mixed with lemonade).

 The big birthday surprise came in the form of the Midnight with Mickey Vera Bradley Hipster.  I love my tote that Luke got me around our anniversary and I have the zip ID case my mom got me for when I go to schools and have to leave ID and keys at the main office.  I love the print and my parents decided that it would be nice for me to have this cute little purse for when I travel.

I had a wonderful birthday and am so appreciative of everything my parents do for me and not just on my birthday but throughout the year.  Even though my birthday is right after the 4th they still find a way to make it a special day for me, despite the craziness of lots of family and such around the cottage.

Michael's First Birthday & 4th of July

Our usual 4th of July festivities kicked off with a delicious meal over at Patty and Danny's place.  We lucked out in that the weather was unusually "chilly" for the holiday.  Usually we are all sitting around sweating but this year we had many people scrambling for long sleeve shirts or pants.  It was actually a perfect temperature but after the heat and humidity in the days before it was a bit of a shock.  

 After lunch/dinner we usually have a poker game but this year we headed over to my parents place where Jen had set up an Ice Cream Shoppe for Michael's First Birthday.  She put a lot of the classic details into the decor and it was amazing.

 Of course the family loved it since we all have a bit of a large sweet tooth.  People sat around chatting and enjoying their sundaes and Root Beer floats.  She had so much leftover too that we invited the neighbors for ice cream and they were in heaven.

 Michael woke up from his nap and was not the happiest of campers.  Usually he is happy but he was just sort of crankity.  Here is Bob tossing him in the air trying to get him to smile before they did his smash cake.

 I might have been kind of unhappy too if all these people were staring at me and I'm not used to all the fuss from that many people.  I am sure that everyone got a great photo of him not smashing his cake while I took one of them all staring at the handsome little dude.

 He did smile for Great Gee-Gee though and had fun sitting in his lap.  Who wouldn't want to smile with Grandpa Zip singing songs and smiling.  He is such a happy guy that it is contagious.

 In the other part of the yard the kids were gathered on the hammock making kickball teams.  Kickball did happen but we were feeding the neighbors ice cream and didn't make it back to Patty and Danny's for that.

 I insisted on giving Michael his gift from Luke and I.  He was very happy and had a huge grin on his face.  It was just what Jen and Bob needed for him to have so he would have some smiling one year photos from the party.  It was a Monsters Inc. inspired coupe.

 Then they did a picture of all the Mikes...

 That night we went to the former Pier One for karioke and drinks.  Our family consisted of about 3/4 of the people there and they were supposed to stop the singing at 9:30 but kept it going until about 1:30.  Crazy.

It was a wonderful 4th of July celebrated with friends and family plus a birthday thrown in there.  A little crazy but that is how most family events are for us and I love it most of the time.

Re-visit of June Goals

So here are the June Goals, and I am not going to do July goals cause having been off from school for 2 weeks I have already scrubbed the powder room floor grout with a toothbrush and wiped down every surface in the kitchen plus vacuumed like 3 times a week and swiffered too!  

June goals:

1. Meal plan for 4 days of the week with a 5th day for left overs.  --We were mostly successful with this one.  A few days were too hot to actually turn the oven on and we went with sandwiches but I really stuck with the plan for this month and loved it.

2.  Get all my Disney stuff for Goofy #10 in a folder/envelope.  --Success!  All that stuff is together and I am ready, just need to find some cheap air fare.  

3.  Do something for our 3 year anniversary.  Something simple but something. -- Passed with keeping it simple with a car picnic and dinner at home in sweats.  We keep it classy.

4. Finish Michael's first birthday gift.  --yup.  And I love how it came out.  Post later on what I made for him  and his birthday.

Happy 4th and Birthday!

Happy 4th of July to everyone and a very happy first birthday to my nephew Michael.  You are still a little dude but we love having you in our family.  Hope you enjoy your first birthday and that your mommy and daddy take lots of pictures or you won't remember it!  Oh, and when people tell you the fireworks are for you, they are liars but it's ok if you want to pretend they really are for you cause you are special!  And some "old" photos of you and me hangin' out since I don't have any recent ones.