Where in the world have we been map

<p>So this is yet another tale of it-was-sitting-in-the-garage-for-three-months-before-I-did-it. There are a lot of those, if you haven’t noticed. It is how I do. </p> <p>I’ve mentioned like 50 times that one of the things about our basement that I LOVE is the potential for the walls – there are a ton of them. There are not in the rest of the house (open concept, few walls without windows, I’m really not complaining, it’s a great problem to have). </p> <p>But I do love having a space that has expanses of wide open walls ready to be decorated in the basement. There’s this one that you see when you get down the stairs: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfa1q3sKUzJ_rK62kCZ33K8WvxO_cLc-jGQI8rnmtcsPBLa_i_x2JqF8jgXzBB0_C3hy7Qw7a7yk2VF4BC5lL5fZZijByUvxoDnxkycYZQ527vGp-zniEkVs5wQsNORNaEaYenkBRp5y0/s1600-h/IMG_63133.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="601" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgueTljJi2V27qqsm5Qgn0ejNi5Ctgo4eRWNyoY0c1R6c0XMvDdAhyPOD1MZf4wX9Kk-8CIx8u_ESYxj7iXcH3nR7eX3jY8X3_tZ7xR7Vl95db6G-4JiX8KQb6p39dJZ0YmpYqka6AqnRQ/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="450" /></a></p> <p>Gloriously empty. And big. </p> <p>Months ago on a trip to IKEA (I think I got this six months ago?), I picked up one of their <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70119430/">huge wall maps</a>. It wasn’t necessarily cheap, but for the size (more than six by four feet), it really wasn’t too bad. </p> <p>I’ve known I wanted to put it that spot but wanted to change it up a bit. At first I was going to cut the map down into three equal sizes and then mount it somehow – just for something different. </p> <p>But I knew I’d need something large to mount the maps to, and I didn’t feel like spending the extra cash on big sheets of particle board and all. So it stayed in the garage. (It also lived in the dining room/library and in the mud room for a while too – I like to change up the scenery you know.) </p> <p>I also had an idea I wanted to implement on the map – I wanted to make it personal and interactive for us. My plan has always been to figure out a way to note where in the world we’ve been – a way to mark where we’ve each traveled. But I didn’t want to use pins that would ruin the map and I wanted it to be safe for little visitors. I mulled over the idea for months and on the flight home from Disney last week it hit me – I knew exactly what I was going to do! </p> <p>So the other night I started putting the map together…finally. It was VERY easy: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9oEMUqRI8uTrNO95vH60i6miJDzRkQvRosxMiLiKa3w4we8f83T6QHg5tWwBqGuJCuIJTmZTerRxQaDy0vPgNqO3s2ZbJOJiD-bX8DQGEmd7B2tEO22fTsGM2E984QDrbkJHRUI78QVk/s1600-h/IMG_63113.jpg"><img alt="DIY map art" border="0" height="599" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj8jnN40pudHcGi2Dwdi_50lD9ut9A5NdxN5uJcqvOk1UeFtnApEBuI1qJUxHba4Hg_vSIdkwfy0RfHSlQfpCGNruO1_QAIU6go3JwDftI5WCPcJcQ_b6l65P-ySpL0iqH7oWoktPfos0/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DIY map art" width="450" /></a></p> <p>I didn’t get the map as taut as I wanted, but it’s fine. It was easy to put together but not so easy I was willing to do it all over again. :) </p> <p>I got it hung and you know my middle name is Can’t Leave Well Enough Alone, so I knew it needed a little something. I got some of the cheap, thin lattice boards at Lowe’s, stained them and then cut them down to make a huge frame around the map: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWvJ-t_QJUY32tgqwHKfDcrQtbJuVNagoG8eNMf1ne1VBwRUKmIYdL-wCIow9JHQH4c1Rpk2jZQyyFYN-JxThldB-xHDyXxbt-pUtVMgLofX9DrUT9XxiU-D0IC02DdXm5MgUU_C4k5d0/s1600-h/IMG_57033.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="frame around ikea map" border="0" height="601" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCQGkCE8C31Bw3BUh25Swb6LSLqnG7EeygRPo_E9Ls2cv3R2J0WbZbc-n-f9eWeCNdjOhDk1ngTA6eH8uk8Yp4x0j23mCoJX6Jbc3DOzVLcxcQT6zcsRNv0FXrNTnpfQZwlf0EHzNNtkQ/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="frame around ikea map" width="400" /></a></p> <p>I started out by trying to glue the wood around the edge of the map, but it wasn’t secure enough so I ended up just using my nail gun and installing it that way. The metal frame is so thin and lightweight I knew the nail would go through easily. </p> <p>It worked great! And I was so happy I added the dark frame – it was the perfect way to finish it off! </p> <p>The final step was to take a hole punch and some random vinyl colors I had around and start punching:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK4t5aiOHvwKCHdqQCfDEk6sNu9P4xzIPzvOQGMAfO57FAqamudBdYE-gd81dj92-VAp-YGg-woG7rrkVLfoZEoFY0IL6eK4QxKsWjLRFlmZPUJolDs4E4ggoWj4sFjejlryXw79hagFg/s1600-h/IMG_63203.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiWE_XglfKyjy-KaPWxK9cgEg8erKJ7jyLEBFaXtjeBXxtyIzpNOAr0nhS5E-Y7ah6Gh_fuO-34aZzzf9pxv09JYy9TrOCAmaA5fYyEqdcKvdcBpdn854shSa7NksRdum59pSdXkwLyrQ/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="400" /></a></p> <p>As I mentioned, I wanted this to be something personal and fun for our family, so the little dots represent each of us (red – me, silver – hubs, yellow – Bub) and I started placing them on the map. I don’t know why it took me so long to think of vinyl instead of push pins, duh, but it worked! </p> <p>Hubby has been to the coolest places by far: </p> <p align="center"> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Sp_ZluOF_V0/UbnqWpSNIYI/AAAAAAAAd4Y/z6KQkV37xSo/s1600-h/IMG_56994.jpg"><img alt="DIY map art" border="0" height="428" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-HeRk7cv52xI/UbnqXB8GPNI/AAAAAAAAd4g/VSLgTDwORbc/IMG_5699_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DIY map art" width="285" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsZ7FVrXolW7rZp36_-OKXfToH-ZDwUqLtV505imI_5f1JZ_vumWVEmTYWNxzDk0beEgAcJqLDjT_K7cmsLzCx0IVubkF2l2V8tqJSW8kxs8ohYQPvCHrmjeUe6VHXF-Axn1B5rPOUl_Q/s1600-h/IMG_5700%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DIY map art" border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUEvzpHlVcdo31_sGXNH3DPjiT9wPILQbo6_poWsjJj3djabl8Zcz2DaUDMNwUSZhAUfAT8yUmfsnBSg7lgOjpq-dh7sf4HCRQGqUiJI3h0jfN0eGfoy9fdD186cNTBWNIpq0mn8nDsCQ/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DIY map art" width="285" /></a>  </p> <p>Together we’ve been to some pretty amazing spots too: </p> <p align="center"> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-fbVbscJLpBs/UbnqYFlXoeI/AAAAAAAAd44/Ai2NHoXu93c/s1600-h/IMG_57016.jpg"><img alt="DIY map art" border="0" height="416" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ZqQBu9KOy7g/UbnqYsDfGOI/AAAAAAAAd5A/EPZPk9TBihI/IMG_5701_thumb8.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DIY map art" width="275" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1-QSxoWkc4aUK7DdNjZk_amh0PUv4ihiPD1jQV8xxe56kP6dVnMv1FDdN8JtsYZkkJz6MCFiRLOtbG5cA1f3883JqiyUSjDWbsNICMiU0FZzr0aEsVu1CZN6u9wUo3oeZR1x3z6Q9M-c/s1600-h/IMG_56984.jpg"><img alt="DIY map art" border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_qdAKLf6o_4Z6qAjkCJ_EVBPy4CmhyphenhyphenDudZTPPbZaSCPe2JjMw65hJvXANNdjjAfA_LAu6XUSetxrnemHwsmpVE4i_xwn2GKFhR6LGjpG2yVFAabW5WyDIB0HRlJogAD6I9ZeRzAgWCY/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DIY map art" width="285" /></a> </p> <p>And the kiddo isn’t doing too shabby in his U.S. travels, considering he’s only six: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGgATZywUkuA7WjtzG6RygTl2PLUjS0mYKrBToqMVGetwyw2kNWiA24W-G-mczHeE0IIUTH2QCokuuDdTmze4EY_AH70FIismC9m1C8gpx44cTs10OBC62G4e0SjEducxAJeIQKY5a9SQ/s1600-h/IMG_56973.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="DIY map art" border="0" height="601" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfTiwgB9T1C2sLD1sb22fYjLtn6jAj5NkBW6FrhHf1R6KJaXn_ICzWHeUuHNBbfyKRlYhGSYowANgOpQWEqTWJBaZliD4xLJXVjBJ5GrN7leDPbiwblI49p9RUwsnXhrGyjPKrvO8eZ9I/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DIY map art" width="400" /></a></p> <p>That’s not even filled up yet -- I realized quickly that the dots are going to be too big. I am on the lookout for a smaller hole punch so I can keep adding to the U.S. map. :) </p> <p>I <strong>love</strong> how the whole thing turned out – I stood back and realized the colors in it(blue, green and yellow with the touch of dark wood) are the exact colors I’m using throughout the basement. </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDjkCwJo1cq-9e2KTXLSlY3i47mRAJILXxLCuuualcmJ5I1zQZvpTcSdY7USrqy24ateBgHxo7iTOwpbrcsbWI7rDvaB5zYAbz3dxuRT13FEOsQ9eRBWTYW-mKOukT-Eq1EGz340nAb2s/s1600-h/IMG_57054.jpg"><img alt="huge IKEA map" border="0" height="826" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj52a4BkzT23TKos_5W-uDJhTSyn_lg30oJ8uXu0OxfCTFgbgrca8po5beMjDTB-ViJCowCaJz1RZdXnBNLXbTemNwT7IYTg9QaD5Gitz-4YZI5WFQJJWFj3ENR5Ikbl2aQYblYTxm4WCg/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="huge IKEA map" width="550" /></a></p> <p><em>Haaallooooo</em> – perfect!</p> <p>And I just love that there’s a little extra something that is significant to our family: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmTZdJNq2qS0zMdxae-i0Gs21aCm_8ERVm2QNwT7L4jCAYjDU-d7ReqUgHsCWKcDpiUFVKZUjBDYPmVr1lzDeIir2RngxVM50-22i2SvwnKbZskcEOCRsrfOPXJddhhengY4w1UaTpBc0/s1600-h/IMG_57114.jpg"><img alt="large map for wall " border="0" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-v8t8dtZVYY5_WQkODjB2izG-TaLNMz_z9Espmg_IFa4kgvvsslRtlKNCmigdv_s1rXE8gwBkECOz6hoHu5KGUUJi4L9fc_yfAEZUB9EsSluCou1R_IMoZ5Wbkm-pSY0ZLLEg89YGxOA/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="large map for wall " width="550" /></a></p> <p>You don’t really see the dots until you get up close. I think it will be fun for the kiddo to show his friends where in the world he’s been. :) </p> <p>If you’ve been around for awhile you know I’ve been using a lot wood tones down in the basement – I’m going for a comfy but ever so slightly industrial/funky vibe down there. I didn’t notice till I was taking pics how well the wood frame ties in with the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2012/08/diy-wood-planked-wall.html">wood planked wall</a> on the stairs: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxK0Plkad2xKQkWuanjUzSXGtIdSYZRhLuRp48fNsO1LTd95IG4UZNoQcctk-O9uSaBtge4hKPhZWFUcphFyuYrgeuTCAiOCTSGL2dao1Hsa-kumkAbc4jpxN3zsywcRRd4ClREBBUrRQ/s1600-h/IMG_57104.jpg"><img alt="large IKEA map" border="0" height="826" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJqW0YCtanc3nGNjNpiHoJ_zRFBh6KBpPZbs-DjJyTg18U1sq6WqpEKS5F8BBWwySQVjzztdA6BSPAwCjqSEuyw8UdHhH4YyhG9GVgwmAQeQ1zUN1fGo5MUyrQIFxDdL1Vql2-xmCcBA4/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="large IKEA map" width="550" /></a> </p> <p>I meant to do that. ;) </p> <p>I’m loving maps lately, obviously – I realized after it was all done that I have two hanging <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2012/10/decorating-basement-little.html">right next to each other</a> down there. OH WELL. I’ll deal. Are you digging maps lately? I’ve seen them used in all kinds of new and fun ways over the past year or so. Love it! </p>

Where in the world have we been map

So this is yet another tale of it-was-sitting-in-the-garage-for-three-months-before-I-did-it. There are a lot of those, if you haven’t notic...

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Haven Giveaway!

<p>Hey all!! Hope you are having a lovely Tuesday! I loved reading all of your Disney comments on my <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/06/my-new-love.html">last post</a>. ;) We were considering a trip around Christmas and now I’m determined more than ever to get back then! </p> <p>I’m back today with the last of our Haven Conference ticket giveaways! If you don’t know what I’m talking about when I say Haven, go <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/05/haven-no-place-like-it.html">here</a> to check it out. I’ll wait. :) <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-oYEGVzpa870/UbdH8MMB5kI/AAAAAAAAd2s/0m0rlu7msLo/s1600-h/banner%25255B1%25255D%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="haven conference" border="0" height="204" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-kctA0nI93ko/UbdH8wileGI/AAAAAAAAd20/_Q_zdBGhwu4/banner%25255B1%25255D_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="haven conference" width="550" /></a></p> <p>We have ONE more ticket to give away and I’ve got it! <em>WHOO! </em></p> <p>If you’ve already bought a ticket, you are still welcome to enter – you can sell your old ticket! There are a ton of people waiting to buy one, check out our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HavenConference">Haven Facebook page</a> to find someone who may want to attend! </p> <p>If you are attending, don’t forget to add the button to your site!: </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-6DiKYfNtEHc/UbdH9SeU6SI/AAAAAAAAd28/5mUgNldSvd0/s1600-h/Haven-maven%25255B4%25255D.png"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="haven conference" border="0" height="150" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-bTEkRlaBGDg/UbdH9_XgGYI/AAAAAAAAd3E/ejqfpyzgWNE/Haven-maven_thumb%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="haven conference" width="150" /></a></p> <p>Can’t wait to see you all there in two short months! </p> <p>To enter, just leave a comment here! (Remember to include an email if you don’t have one attached to your account.) The giveaway will be open till this Thursday, June 13 at noon. </p>

Haven Giveaway!

Hey all!! Hope you are having a lovely Tuesday! I loved reading all of your Disney comments on my last post . ;) We were considering a trip ...

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My new love

<p>Hello all!! Happy Monday! I’ve already mentioned that I’m slowing down to my normal sloth-like pace on the blog this summer, but this also means my posting times will vary quite a bit. OK…they do anyway, but they will even more so in the summer. I’m not a good blogger that writes posts ahead and has them ready to go first thing in the morning. I wish I was. *Hangs blogging head in shame.* So things will be a little erratic, I hope you’ll hang in there with me. :) </p> <p>So. I’ve fallen in love with a new city. Well, I should say park. A big one. You all know how much <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/search/label/NYC">we love NYC</a> – it’s our favorite place on earth, other than home. But now it has some competition, named Disney. ;) </p> <p>Last week we took a very quick vacation down to Florida. And when I say quick I mean only about three days. And when I say vacation I mean VACATION – this is our first real family vacation (other than to New York) that we’ve ever taken anywhere that didn’t have something to do with work. </p> <p>I’m serious people – every trip we’ve ever been on as a family (or heck, even as a couple!) has had something to do with hubby’s work. Every. single. one. And now that <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/05/bittersweet.html">he’s retired</a>, we were able to carve out a few days to get away. That would have never happened in summer’s past! </p> <p>So the whole fact that we got away was so special to me, you have no idea. And the fact that my son and I (yes, I was a Disney newbie) finally got to Disney made it even more special. </p> <p>We spent our first day in Legoland actually – the Bub is Lego <strong>obsessed</strong> so we HAD to go there. I think he was more excited about that than he was Disney! We had some interesting moments with downpours and tornado warnings and taking shelter in the restrooms with everyone else in the park, but after about an hour the day turned much better and we were able to really enjoy the park without crowds – it was perfect!</p> <p>That evening we headed to our hotel at Disney and I started falling in love. We stayed at the Polynesian and it was STUNNING:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWi9CTImoPsLt7XRd9KAyh5Shpc8UOryzGLJKZCqFO6YS5GcqOUqH9cDXCUF3MX6iyJco68A8MxWejbESojZNeXn2rNjo_bpR1Kj0yK3dR1NxLPlqH1jgJc8Q8mukWhAp1CUkg4DmXQ7U/s1600-h/IMG_6221%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="599" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnSdSk38WbHaFgU19rlnLWwyAqTfqKO25ttdjYWzATjwmxaZXdIKxq7d_LQF0LiW2Y5SF6mxGQxTqaHw6DROvqepkZDSVVhW2wN_KNLzhKXZWdn-fvpr9XC3Y4mHgdVp_wBzsQ5HqRF9E/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="450" /></a></p> <p>I wanted to spend about an hour taking pics but we just didn’t have time while there. I will do it next time – the grounds are just gorgeous! </p> <p>So I totally got the Disney “thing” the second we walked in to the hotel – we were greeted and escorted through the hotel to our building. The squealing started (from me) when we walked in to our room and I saw the cute little touches everywhere: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4o0xV13304KSoyQDDanA1F5CenbWaYepflFTeTilfDCnUIzS_CBDGOJufYWFn0gf8006ZC4NgkmLSGepJP1WIStlCDj9xtxmomMdaWF_a_xtteSrQPb0A_xw7gfjR-nTC9ZUVEh61-2o/s1600-h/IMG_6074%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="601" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkpUFv8QrVe-KGsOUK4F7nZ05a2w-xHueuA9gTb8GvDlfg9fFgZlH6wEZpGq7XKgp8rqFvPXnzjbDD7dZ64s-pt8YeAPE8KEJCQ3zp8_C3a26P6BR6W-Pkt3-_9DoYfwKeuMnf1U9J3Ts/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="450" /></a></p> <p>And it continued when I realized the view from our room: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDNiI7KBHdXEczU7Y2_pUZ8kv20zOOqoCkIenN3hMWA2H1t3sy2ei8Iw_hwx9h5d2luPSCJi_haiLqh5oBiZrrGrAoa6eLrAv438L8fIa_8maUjjhh8-P5Q1B-CvBAjw6MRAuvr77meyk/s1600-h/IMG_6076%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglZ2Y1sbP8lEPCcxVbCvt3TBiEs_WdZ_4SOOZJhyhceAUPd11c3I7wCmEpyoiQef_s0h8gZV3tirLcDKGMCkt5c2qH5wCpmWxdw-zaCByVCcswntxzo6izCG0ZoyLB6SMPhyphenhyphenvvVy9aPXU/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="500" /></a></p> <p>I almost cried. I <strike>almost</strike> cried a few times on the trip. It was emotional to finally get there after 37 years – it made me <em>so</em> giddy and happy. </p> <p>The emotions certainly didn’t stop when we walked in to the park for the first time: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifLkxd3TfKfNveZHfuKNk1YGHw7Idtat1Q_2FjkLdyk5AG1yV-NH5KF6HR665VOLsFHufXyfqY6HbNCJOj3HtvZRtyL4yi1kFyLkb8i82j8dfuvumOgeaCsZLmKYoTOED4X7l-G4JLX2c/s1600-h/IMG_6083%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Main street Disney" border="0" height="601" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxpsNKMVCZH8TMkxESWqtk9H1L8K8-_hKeHChrPTrmd4ttd3kk-gWIqoEaDNqtzS9T83bjPbu2PgfTWH0wpkpFnwHEJpRaThV206s48V9CTBCo8ulsJpgkFDzLor4qxeQe3v9ymRkTSrM/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="Main street Disney" width="450" /></a></p> <p>I had an obsession with Cinderella’s castle. I could have spent an hour just walking around that one thing. </p> <p>It’s magical, of course:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi792AAq1dMYSobHTkQLQC7edTrtt47eAxEfDh3hXJ_Jk42P_vljlB1ZLPtIwU6GrBd5u2jZT62YYwHUIUakonl6KOkHSSlBmCJrL3vWTHGaG_Msp-pr7GoiMi1XcE8my-p-VVyxxq8_RA/s1600-h/IMG_6251%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="599" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF7to72Tb5Mk4TW_5EDwa5Dfgzb6YMFVzs1cQfBR8WInNPtSSoUJzbLTAn5Nuil6sSc97prFdITg3biIWEHQWRyUtXrKsv6-CYqSes6xqsmBWtDCd5uUw_osSrd40Se9QW_T5DB1ZSI3s/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="450" /></a></p> <p>So I mentioned this was a quick trip and I know so many of you experienced Disney folks are freaking out that we only spent two days at the parks. I know. But it was our only chance to get away in June (hubby is retired from teaching but so busy with other obligations already) and I didn’t want to go later in the summer when it was stupid hot, so this is what we got. </p> <p>And we took full advantage! We rode a TON of rides in the short time we were there: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJbWAt0CYS8bCdeXJzH0HkLJHeZ5UZQAJ07aiBuHW3Fc8Jj8Scd5B6K0BawLFV3LTIxW37tbKfiZK-v9iBrgIlCBAy0MVAKymUUW1KP4i30wklWYyrsy006vS27Fa8DoGaqYCwmLFjeU8/s1600-h/IMG_6085%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="cars at Disney" border="0" height="706" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYK0WjK6ynuOM6kYoGEjND7m6MwZEpJFtd0SPJfN4f1Zo2ZlV194N9hZWG28dFe4Q0xO7QUsFP-hJL_0J0fCebIuR_V0v6usirxvdOj8LVYj2lcQJe9bdTKksB4gENUpdhjURNR02N6dU/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="cars at Disney" width="477" /></a></p> <p>The Dumbo ride was one that I was especially drawn to – it just screams Disney to me: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZmW2AfbOGtEIPNp10NccPPe-PdElLoK49_JYOhjlpeuutJ1zrEevcbV4ZsEk0pqxpfXJ9OMXjY6Zxn0Y2L6nBdShz6rX5Jca-DDO59OUDlcmLZJUdw1klQ7ZULEPy2uQsQyXYyyMhrb0/s1600-h/IMG_6104%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="dumbo ride Disney" border="0" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSY68jkqCIUmvC67XQtEQsdfM_ufgxCZLgrYWV1jVEQw3eSv80u5S9ceuJ71qSm0Bo7tNGl8TmM4bwmeDeEQ6s6LmMXxqZqa05O8ivigyzcO7ckt1LCD-OsmcxHqATk1o5KellV3CjPWs/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="dumbo ride Disney" width="500" /></a></p> <p>The small world ride was one of my favorites too, but Splash Mountain was our family fave hands down. SO. much. fun. </p> <p>We spent one evening in Epcot where we dined in Mexico: </p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1crnAxGLLPHWx40055FCBJubJEXTB7ubJzq5hMrWapKJBj3ikj-IdAPAeTqrT7pjSrl6xiSeGvfLq6S5b-3f0MbukfjAtW3Tmi18as6EH1h7GrO0afQDokgEdzbs58UrAeq6PZd7ic4s/s1600-h/IMG_6114%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqq3q-bx1mXaSiTxPbCtv81jrtQF7hgI2Tim6VXfBY8YwyTr7NA1LElJpIqZoOaH_iGpGFOotfaoDiQwTU7ItrDJ5kDTSgjyYTeWO0Xz9KFlJVzaIheO__e3zaCmfS4qwra7LQMmlaDts/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="" width="290" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDLY-nJRqFKm4FzL00uXnh0Xrp3Ek9PqgcdcYE4xbU0-8BX2frSCzkKEJnoYF1ivxj6lX0u7JPgRjZbS6Mqr4y9TaIv6QjnHDtW-xGWz6h38SJ-8ySa03RGQb9FWu8vrerP3BQVYe1kIM/s1600-h/IMG_6115%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN8nF3c2Tag1e8p63ruV67_8VbR2y_Qe1aAIA-LcuUtVtdzCnhwhM7-qxurwnZNx4XIf9cfQplW-1Q3LH3ar3jCjqTL0k84kX7SdYPBOqELYHcpaNvMHpLT7F6RnGh-uQusQBiQc_9GEA/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="" width="290" /></a> </p> <p>And it was incredible. ;) </p> <p>Hubby wanted us to stay for the Illuminations show that night, it gorgeous evening: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUYwlU-TYOMl_-sfhfCyITySMVMVpKW4ZBV-h1zmgct3PTsfC6VrWr6qlYlRXk2jlKFvN91d2OeqoD5aMDiSjnuM1Qhr1Pt2IwCXxGXqxRDBjhKERoFBzx3UPnaE_Dr2F3axTFsCKPf90/s1600-h/IMG_6133%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1L8rhzBfhq5qAMkxljm-5b_2cDE1ynrJ3WFWJ4FZ70os3mxQWZnDf6jIX1mf4lEFeYDhjM82s6QC8Q-jPA3XI2JXhGwE_Aa3Pl0ElnZAfxDc7ftj9AQJJ1D6WfUo25j7zm81k_-QwNG4/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="450" /></a></p> <p>The show was AWESOME, we all loved it. Although hubs said it used to be even cooler and was more of a laser light show: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXqI-FSChyffc3KqSPjymyZi2AZYy-zR_VKY1yWcOOeJHe6NWmqVqieR2MggO5t_ktKfBSu6fYpxHdyOfQqB3lIJxPAZ_ONvlH75wC0NdTy94kCHlimAzFkFhjUHy6nx1bnWnpyZhYZ04/s1600-h/IMG_6136%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="599" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKLXe6Pt3Vcn4Ex-Q6pt3zXZ3la7qfD38d21HxaODRIoFD5MsrJLc5qhOuox7nG0LTUOGwZpVupWarE8geVqgZDR1k-loYJfOVMXkupZf2v2QU3JOUZtAcZwikUHqkv3rJV_V-6-1WCP4/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="450" /></a></p> <p>This view was another one of those that made me misty: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzsC9-Z2DD84Xw7-ZUTvnIDQsbOQGQVf0UptFiN85APoHLfAcjp6efNNdOa2IKxob1yrk6ckJC1eLrmV_UUNVD6zxixye6M4gP6wcohOl0CMWcDVfMhz7fSYbMXvgmAQ7Y3FwlcjUGw1c/s1600-h/IMG_6167%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="epcot at nig" border="0" height="599" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkgkb_vQIVVI1qEkQRZeEJ73-qH_nKLmOQ3gPjCITNrcQ-ZyS6HI7DS-pFJjpFgcmnYtjSD1PmAuqy1IsuMBfCMdZNYpgwpSKwU1O9uIwa9helgRx3LLf-WuNhBOSSNDA1TCDRiHMiLi4/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="epcot at nig" width="450" /></a></p> <p>It was an amazing trip. I totally get it now. Totally. <em>I am hooked</em>. </p> <p>I didn’t plan for our first trip like most would – I didn’t ask friends what we should do, didn’t read any blogs, didn’t make any dinner reservations. I’m the kind of person that just needs to figure it out for myself. I didn’t want us to be trying to rush to this or this “must do” while we were there, I just wanted us to experience it as <em>we</em> would. </p> <p>And we did. And it was perfect. :)</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-KUrH4ovcaW13Um2JFSK1qYErKd4x4Dv0AcAvV-9TLj7d8oYYP88_2YEqbquyrXW5CneJ6vYpWUmPfPeokrIrb48CvmiwBSfaGGizmMUdYXOTTeryrpzXzY0neeWzAEyhUHAAUn2x5OM/s1600-h/IMG_6257%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Mickey Mouse at Disney" border="0" height="599" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNOuSrenmcRPfwfID7DQo5uAqS1pqx1aA0DXQC_7M3yfhmgLRCOmuuExIzqA6QNAVQ3D1l4IIFzu2QbZ6RzMZNJuE6eG9ITNJ2-D0rX5lR6YaDnlHA3vUEqT8yWygfDsbfMkDjJPRw0-g/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="Mickey Mouse at Disney" width="450" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9JqINV9siKpwCPD9Gtxz5VBDCeXXEStEvioKs9pmGzYdRRN-4m3a1yu-TtaQclserh_pYt1rZ2IqZ9wGVrQDVP1yBNcbcwwlOO99it_C5YlEWXtcUAupbt34Nrs32dPPXZHPxsD19WN8/s1600-h/IMG_6264%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="fireworks at Disney" border="0" height="601" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgokqCeCD8cjUKy-FDOHcjoA43hAXFTEc1GSNtVtz337Ur44dmho6lLcK4j8051gNCriNgk1bd_hrdR1kublqW6ydujLz5ApWnM2_vco5ATzJ07XhscX-gXvf0jnFXDNHdMuOKAwHPhv7c/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="fireworks at Disney" width="450" /></a></p> <p>I figured out a few things fast on this trip – here are my tips for any fellow newbies who may be going this summer: </p> <p>1. Don’t try to look cute. Just don’t. The heat/weather/splash mountain gods will laugh at you. </p> <p>2. Buy the fan with the water in it that you pass on the way into the park and think, “I’m not <em>so</em> not spending money on that!” For all that is good…<em>BUY IT</em>. </p> <p>3. Dole Whip is seriously the most amazing, beautiful, delicious thing you will ever, ever, ever eat. <strong>Ever.</strong> </p> <p>That’s just about all you need to know. :) </p> <p>We didn’t even get two full days in the parks – the last day we got slammed with this: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbkw3lAHb_Ru5eOvVYJZ3C0CDLyvS-o4RnTLSUNrbZEObnvQCe4OwMKR6Bub3umuqsns5vhPpKJ1h3M_kwqZdwhGZK6F4kEVufa_XZmvpjmgO4tlHZhzEqg8AcFN2QQN6F_An5H_wVIWk/s1600-h/rain%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="downpour in Disney" border="0" height="676" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX-JJRTpSot0Rib3iV_E1834dg9z6gOFrYiSRf_gckpq-erGsZZBAgLTY7RrVTuiZCIN9jzqxy3NStT7M340v6rydnm7RewNNi2iwzrEzCBymDGczvxK0S8-UH71tjJR6CNm4NaRsEu4A/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="downpour in Disney" width="450" /></a></p> <p>We waited it out for about an hour, then when it calmed down a bit we did a little more, but it was just too intense. We headed back to the hotel for a much needed nap and a great meal. </p> <p>Usually when we head home from a trip I’m ready. The only time I’m not is when we’re in New York. I felt that this time too – I was SO sad to leave. I wanted to stay for another week – and for this homebody that’s saying something: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoQYaECDFJw4Oy4hgOtYyxy_5daeKUQcs9PF__by2XOOaUY5BGple4daZG7kKxWWrIyyDrqrqp5qLvb15I4d6XY9zwkBSgyhQTH3NKrGGEZTNHSi2TFcNUufEVct0iWdmyrh27OjbChn4/s1600-h/IMG_6275%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="599" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6-y_QLaaMUvJqAegif5dZ_QNqiHqBP6bMq2d4KjXL2G3LwavToDgq7D5Sb27kLHpYM_ksFj2FY3bSPl6xG_nLjqhGkCP3KThGpZvOByaFfJKlUeIzBRmWqxHcmp6QZAvzjN9KNPijjVI/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="450" /></a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>We’re already planning our next trip. Hopefully later this year. :) I cannot WAIT!!</p> <p>Are you a Disney fan? Did you feel like this after your first trip? How many times have you been? When do stop missing it? ;)</p> <p>**P.S. Early June was a <strong>great</strong> time to go – I wanted us to go at this time of year on purpose. We were there before so many schools were out for the summer, the weather was hot but not as hot as it gets in mid/late summer and we actually got a hotel discount for staying that week. The only issue was the rain – I hear it’s an especially rainy season for Florida. </p>

My new love

Hello all!! Happy Monday! I’ve already mentioned that I’m slowing down to my normal sloth-like pace on the blog this summer, but this also m...

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