Tag Archives: Disney at Home

Top 10 New Year’s Resolutions – Disney Style

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Happy New Year Disney Fans!  I’m thankful for all the new friends I’ve made this year and appreciate every one of you for choosing to stop by here and join me in my Disney life.  To ring in the New Year properly, I think it calls for a declaration.  Ladies and Gentlemen of the Earhat-wearing variety….I give to you my Top Ten New Year’s Resolutions – Disney Style:      

General Dis Pics 12.26 0151.  See These Movies:

  • Muppets Most Wanted (3/21/14) – Been a huge fan my whole life – this is a can’t-be-missed movie for me!  The unresolved romance between Kermit and Piggy keeps me coming back for more.
  • Captain America:  The Winter Soldier (4/4/14) – I’m diggin’ all the Marvel movies and I think the Cap’s aces.
  • Million Dollar Arm (5/16/14) – I am just a girl who cannot resist a good baseball movie.
  • Maleficent (5/30/14) – Looks darkly intriguing – I think we will love to hate her!
  • Into the Woods (12/25/14) – Have heard so much about this show – can’t wait to see it!

2.  Book a Cruise – I’ve got a place-holder (aka “dummy”) cruise burning a hole in my pocket.  Since August when we re-booked onboard (while sailing on the Magic in the Mediterranean) – We are anxiously waiting to DSCN0685see what the rest of 2015’s sailings look like before making a final decision.  Wishing for Baltic (tie in to Frozen).

3.  Attend Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party – I have wanted to do this forever.  2014 is the year!

4.  Buy a Fancy New Earhat – sounds easy enough, but I have the most difficult time deciding on one – I always walk away with a Disney baseball cap instead.  Not this year.  No, sir.

5.  Eat This Food – I’m up for passing up old favorites and trying out some new places in 2014.  I’m thinking about these:

  • Be Our Guest – I know, right?  Everyone’s clamoring to get in there – I’ll be lucky to score a visit, but I’ve heard so much great stuff about it.  I’m at least resolving to try my best to get in!
  • Flying Fish – I’ve never eaten here.  Chime in if you think I should ditch this plan in favor of something else.
  • 1900 Park Fare – For a character meal it has always been Chef Mickey’s but now that we have “adult” children, I thought Lady Tremaine and the Steps might be a bunch of fun.
  • Hollywood Brown Derby – We have never eaten here and have always heard great things.  IMG_2382Even if we just sit in the new outdoor patio lounge – I’d like to give it a go.

6.  Find and Trade a Pin to Complete This Set!  I love pin trading and in 2014 I’m gonna be in-it-to-win-it!  Yeah, Baby!  Watch out flying Orange Bird – you are mine!

7.  Ride the Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train – Ugh.  Feels like the Fantasyland expansion has been going on forever!  I am riding this ride, dadgummit – get out of my way.

8.  Try These Recipes:  (You may have seen my other posts on cooking Disney food here and here and here)  I like to cook – why not make it Disney food?  Thanks to AllEars.Net for the recipes.

9.  Try a Dole Whip:  They say confession is good for the soul – so now you know my darkest Disney Secret (one of them anyway)…I hid it way down here at #9 so maybe no one will notice.  I have never eaten a single bite of Dole Whip in my life.  Don’t judge me.

10.  Take Better Disney Pictures!  To my shame, my Disney pictures are mediocre at best.  The great computer crash of 2009 cost me dearly and I just need to learn to be a better photographer overall.  I buy really small cameras because they’re easy to carry.  I’m not sure if I’ll actually dish out more cash on yet another camera, but I’ll do what I can to make the most of what I’ve got.  Promise.

Well – that wraps up my top 10 resolutions for 2014!  What about you?  Whatcha got?  Did any of these make it to your list?  If starting a rigorous exercise program or going on a diet seem too strenuous for you, join me on my 2014 Disney resolution journey and we’ll conquer the World together. 

Wishing you a Happy, Healthy and Pixie-Dusted New Year….Lisa

What Disney Gifts did Santa Bring?

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IMG_2453We Disney fans have got to be, without a doubt, the easiest people in the World to buy gifts for – if it’s Disney, we love it!  So, the very best thing about having Christmas behind me?  I now get to enjoy the new Disney “toys” I found under our Christmas tree!

Confession time:  While I was shopping Disney for The Fam, I did (I hope I’m not the only one who does this) buy myself a little something.  Couldn’t help it – I love Mulan and the ornament was too cute to pass up.

My own purchase aside, I’ve got to say, I’m completely thrilled with the variety and thoughtfulness of this year’s Disney gifts.

Here are some of my most favorite:

IMG_2439The Haunted Mansion bottle stopper.  Perfect for me since I love wine almost as much as I love Disney – Thanks, Megan!

Tea and cookies, anyone?  If you happen to already have Mickey Mouse dinnerware and an “awning red” kitchen, then a tea-for-one set and matching cookie jar are perfect gifts, no?

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Raymond continued Megan’s theme with some additional Disney kitchen items (mixing bowls and salad plates).  Plus he booked a trip to Disney World for us all to take this spring – can’t wait!

IMG_2435I have been hinting for quite a while that it would be super cool to start collecting those new Disney shoe ornaments.  Have you heard about them?  The Disney Parks Blog as a great write-up about them with fab pics here.  Anyway, someone (sweet Megan) finally took pity on me and got my collection kicked off with a perfect shoe – Tink’s –   Check out the wings!

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Finally, my very wonderful and thoughtful friend, Phyllis, took the time to make me a Living a Disney Life scrapbook.  She wanted me to have a memento of how I turned my Disney obsession and a little free time into my very own blog.  Posts and pages printed and adorably embellished with colorful Disney bling.  Thanks, Philly!

What Disney gifts did Santa bring you?

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Mini Review: Saving Mr. Banks

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IMG_2400I’d been waiting a long time to see Disney’s Saving Mr. Banks.  As I mentioned a couple of days ago, Mary Poppins (the movie) and I are the same age and the movie’s songs hold a special place in my heart.  The story behind the story was something I thought too good to miss – the addition of Tom Hanks as Walt Disney and Emma Thompson as P. L. Travers made the movie even more appealing to me.

I tried to avoid reading reviews of any kind before going to see Saving Mr. Banks.  I knew that the film follows Mrs. Travers and Walt Disney over a two-week period leading up to the filming of Mary Poppins.  I also knew the movie would include several flashbacks to P. L. Travers’ childhood – presumably dealing with what happened during her formative years that led to the invention of Mary Poppins in P. L. Travers’ books.  I’d heard enough to know to expect the near-perfect recreation of 1961 Disneyland – I was excited to see that for myself.

Raymond and I went to a late afternoon matinee yesterday.  After a movie, I always want to chat about it on the way home – the plot, the characters, the best parts, the funniest lines, etc.  When we got in the car to go home, Raymond said enthusiastically that he’d liked Saving Mr. Banks a lot.  I said nothing at all.  This did not go unnoticed – let’s face it – anytime I’m quiet is unusual.  After we got home, Raymond again mentioned how much he’d enjoyed the movie and asked me if my lack of response meant I hadn’t liked it.

I did like the movie.  Very much, in fact.  I was just unprepared for it.  I suppose the previews made me think it would be mostly lighthearted and fun.  There were happy and funny parts, sure, but for the most part, I found the film unexpectedly intense.  There was a depth to P. L. Travers and her story I hadn’t expected (what I get for refusing to read any reviews) and, instead of making me want to talk about the film – that intensity made me want to think about the film, its plot, the characters, the best parts, the funniest lines and so on.  I’m thinking about it still.

If you’ve planned on seeing Saving Mr. Banks during the holidays – go!  It’s genuinely a good movie with an unexpectedly touching story that has nothing and everything to do with Mary Poppins.  Every single character makes their own special contribution to the story’s overall success.  When you get back, I’d love to hear your thoughts on it.

 

I Have a Disney One of THESE!

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It fits in the palm of my hand – What could it be?

For Christmas this year, my sweet friend Kelly gave me a beautiful Lenox Santa to add to my Santa collection.  Along with the gift was a lagniappe (Louisiana tradition, a lagniappe is “a little something extra”).  It’s that certain little something that this post is all about!  When I tell you what it is…you’re maybe going to be happy for me – you might even be jealous.  For sure, if you don’t have one already – you’ll want one of your very own!

So, what is it?  A Mickey cookie cutter!!!!  Smallish, perfectly shaped, cute as can be.  It would actually make a really adorable Christmas ornament.  As soon as I saw it, ideas for its immediate use began to form.  Those who know me well know that I have LOTS of ideas.  About everything – I don’t have brain storms; they’re more like brain hurricanes.  I couldn’t wait to get home and get busy with my new kitchen gadget!IMG_2395

First I whipped up a batch of Raymond’s Aunt Mary’s tea cake dough – normally the dough is rolled out and cut into squares, but I had new plans for those tea cakes.  Dough chilling, next came a batch of Rice Krispies Treats – oh, they were getting some special treatment as well.  I had plans, people – I was in the zone!  The possibilities seemed endless – I was only limited by time.

New cookie cutter in hand, I went to work.  A few short minutes later…..and…..I needed something more!  Aha!  Melted chocolate – what is not better with the addition of chocolate.  And a few sprinkles.

IMG_2398So, thanks to Kelly and my new Mickey cookie cutter, I now have some adorable and delicious Disney Christmas goodies to offer family and friends as they join us for the annual Christmas Eve Bonfire and Fireworks Extravaganza.  If you’re in the neighborhood, we’d love to see you!

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