Shaken, Broken, Called

You know when you become a Christian, you say you believe Jesus died for your sins and accept him as your Lord and savior.

Ask him to wipe your sins clean with the blood he shed, to forgive you.

You repent- meaning you don't just say sorry like my 9 year old Everytime she plays instead of cleaning but never changes and it always tasks three weeks to clean her room correctly...

Repentance doesn't mean just saying sorry when you're caught, it means you acknowledge you were wrong in whatever some you had but then you put action behind it- you put some verbs in it (as dr Phi says) and you actively change your life, behavior, heart and mind in your way of thinking to put your best effort into never doing that sin again.

That's repentance.

But all that is just the begining. There is so much more and in America's church so many don't even grasp the true meaning of repenting let alone moving on to LIVE as a Christian.

To live as a chrisrian means to die to yourself. That is one reason it is called born again. We die to ourselves and in making Jesus our Lord we mean Lord of our life - and that title means we give him control .

We live for him.

Our desires
our plans
our thoughts

They aren't our own.

His will comes first in our life.

Sadly, we don't do that in reality so often.

We can love God. We can worship God. We can even live BY Gods standards.

But are we really living FOR God?

I think the American church falls so far short of truly living for God. We go to some church services on Sunday and want to pat ourselves on the back and think we did God some huge favor by going and sitting on comfortable seats, in comfortable temperatures getting blessed by a sermon and prayer.

And those who make it to sit through Sunday night service and midweek- well they REALLY think they've got it all together.

Spiritual super stars, those ones.

That's not what it's all about.

Yes you are supposed to go to church. I'm not saying not to.

You're supposed to go to church to be with other believers to be filled back up because you are so SPENT after a week of going out and being jesus to the world that you NEED to be In church to be refreshed and recharged.

But we don't do that .

So that's not why we go.

We go to church to get filled and filled and filled and that is all.

We don't give it back out we keep it in and then we go back and get filled again like big fat ticks.

And we want praised for doing so. We want God to bless us for doing so.

Meanwhile we are neglecting all Jesus told us to do.

Matthew 28:19-20 (KJV)

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."

I don't see sit in that do you? I see a whole lot of GO.

"This is my commandment, that you love one another
as I have loved you." (John 15:12 RSV)

More passive of a verb. Until you consider HOW Jesus loved us and what all that love entailed.

1 Corinthians 15:58
New International Version (NIV)
58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Idk that sounds pretty active to me. Labor and all. Sitting in a church - not so much labor.

John 3:17

If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?

1

Isaiah 1:17

Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause.

That's a lot in that verse alone.

210 million orphans worldwide.
1.2 million are victims of human trafficking each year.

Clearly we are not doing enough.

These are just a few of the many ACTIVE things we are told to do in the bible.

I just read there are 1,050 commands in the New Testament alone.

Some may overlap but the fact that there are 1,050 mentions of actions we as Christians are to take, is staggering.

One is to not forsake the gathering together of believers.

We have that one down.

What about the rest?

Can we say we are truly LIVING for Christ ?

Are we seeking out his will daily?

This isn't just for pastors.

Do you know we are all called to be pastors and preachers?

We are not all given a church to be a pastor in the sense that the organized church refers to the term pastor, but we are all called to care for our brothers and sisters in Christ, for the down trodden, the orphan, the widow, our community.

We may not all preach in front of millions like Billy Graham but we are all called to proclaim Gods truths and share his plan for salvation.

What we are not called to do is just sit inside the four walls of a church week after week year after year .

If you've given your life to God -if you're living for Him - not just you- you need to be on the move.

You need to be out doing what others won't.

I'm not writing this in condemnation.

This is what Gods been driving through my head and heart the last 6 months.

I love to serve God.

Right now im blessed to help with a Sunday school class and even more so to help with youth group.

But God isn't satisfied with me serving in those ways. I'm not fulfilling all those verbs I posted above which are only a few he's asked of us.

God wants us working for him outside the church.

If we won't who will?

We can go on living our lives for ourselves, our family, our church. Loving God and trying not to sin.

But if we tell him "I've died to myself I live for you"

One day. One day he's going to call you up to active duty.

I've been called up.

He's wrecked me the last few months and rebuilt me.

He's been rending my heart to hear his voice more clearly.
To see the world through his eyes far beyond the perceived needs and wants of myself and my family.

He's broken me to the point where I can't think of anything less.

Nothing else satisfies.

I feel trapped and breathless from being in a box of what I think is serving God, only to be given the realized its not enough. I want out, I NEED to do more.

I understand what Jeremiah meant when said its Like a fire shut up in my bones.

He's transformed me so that I just want to walk away from it all take my family and go wherever he leads, just anything so that we make a difference and we live, truly live for Him.

My life is not my own.

Not any longer.

I'm not so spiritual.

I didn't ask for this .
I haven't prayed it into my life.
I wasn't looking for it.

It found me.

I was called up.

God decided it was time He take me up on my oath.

"My life is yours God. Not what I want but your will. I'm dead to myself, I'm living for you. Lead me , guide me, send me. "

He will.

He is.

You may live your life as a "good" Christian for years and be able to live life as you planned and still be in his will and go on about your way.

One day he will call you up and ask more of you. Hold you true to your word.

Shake you and break you and make you new, bring you further in your walk.

That time for me and my family is now.

Pray for us!

God is asking a lot.

I've already tried to run.

For all my wanting to walk away from it all talk and just serve no matter he asks- when it becomes reality it's overwhelming.


But it's worth it.

And I have no choice.

I live for Him.

I gave my word.

And my life ...

To him to use as he sees fit.



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Instafriday- January 19-24

iPhone outtake of Ellie bellies fifth birthday glitter shoot.




Layla getting into the glitter action.




These are the kind of photos I find filling up my iPhone photo album daily. She likes to steal while I'm busy in the background




Laci sitting in glitter because you know, 2 glittery kids wasn't mess enough!




Sleeping UNDER her bed. Obviously not afraid of boogie monsters....




It's been single digits this week. Brrr. Ella being a bit dramatic about the cold on the way to dance!







Chocolate covered pretzel sticks and marshmallows for Ella's party! So much left to do today.

Insta Friday - January 11-17

This week included Ella's birthday. Can't believe she is 5 already : (




1.Opening some presents
2. Headed out to Chuck E Cheese with her Just Like Me American Girl Doll Izzy (my nickname for Ella and she named her doll after herself)
3. More presents
4. Pretty Birthday eating the birthday meal of her choosing - pizza.





Too pretty deserved a full shot not just collage <3





This was her birthday breakfast in bed. I made birthday cake flavored pancakes in a Disney princess waffle maker I borrowed from my mom as a surprise for the princess .




She asked for a castle cake so this is what I through together!




She liked it. But she's not much of a cake eater...crazy kid demands.




You better blow out the candles or ill do it for you!




I just love Layla's rotten grin as she eyes the cake and climbs on the island to lunge at for frosting!



Snuggling with daddy while she steals his phone.






Remnants of a tea party <3

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Another Disney Day- Port Orleans Riverside Royal Rooms Review and video

I'm in the dreaming/planning stage of a Walt Disney World vacation and as such I'm reminiscing over past trips.

I also have many friends dreaming/planning as well which includes asking me questions/ advice.

To streamline that process for them and me I'm going to jot down some thoughts.

I think typically aside from time of visit (which I recommend September ) the first thing people think about is lodging.
I highly recommend staying on
property.

You get the ease of being in the resort itself and no extra traveling.

You get free bus transportation all over Disney property meaning no parking lot fees or driving yourself.

Parking lot fees are also waived for resort guests in the event you choose to drive yourself some.

We did some driving this year and it worked out nicely and was a nice break from

Extra Magic Hours are also a perk for resort guests.

Typically a park will open an hour earlier or stay open three hours later for resort guests only.

Going in an off season this especially helpful as the parks tend to close 9-10 pm.

Aside from being in the parks with less people some parks have special extra magic hours only events.
Disney Hollywood Studios has a character dance party.

This was one of our favorite parts of the trip as the kids got tons of one on one time with characters- even Mickey and Minnie.

This last trip we were fortunate enough to stay in the Port Orleans Riverside Resort newly renovated Royal Rooms.

Right off the bat, having three princesses , I knew Royal Rooms would be a hit.

The resort itself is a beautiful sprawling (largest moderate resort) Southern estate. The Sassagoula River winds around the old plantation style mansion dotted grounds while riverboats - which transport guests to downtown Disney or the sister resort French Quarter- float by.
This gives the resort a much needed laid back relaxed feel.

Normally I am all about rushing to the parks- dont wanna miss a moment- but this resort made me want to take my time and stroll leisurely - not speed walk- down the winding paths to our various destinations.

We stayed in the Magnolia Bend which is one of the beautiful mansion style buildings. It even had a court yard with a fountain and reflecting pool type water feature.

The courtyard also had Tianas throne which I really wanted picture of the girls in but they were always raring to reach the parks or pool.

The Royal rooms are gorgeous and the most opulent of the moderates we have stayed at. The rich colors give the room a note of elegance that other moderates (while still very nice) on Disney World property lack.

The headboards alone, in a rich wood with led firework display, make the rooms a must see.

The carpets are a deep blue accented with a built in Aladdin's flying carpet.



Aside from the many pictures of the Princesses on the walls ( they depict the princesses visiting
Tiana at her new resort and show the princesses in a new light) there are many nods of the hat (or mouse ears) to the popular Princess movies.


Aladdin is represented not only in the rug but the faucet as well in a magic lamp shade.

There is a bench with feet seen in Beasts enchanted castle in Beauty and the Beast.



Ariel is represented in the shower, but as my girls requested when we were there, ill let you find those on your own if you go. (And you should!)

The comforters provide more princess touches, covered in the various crowns of the Disney princesses.

It seemed every moment in our room the girls were finding new "hidden" details and were so excited each time. Watch them explore and get a visual of the room
Here

This is the first year we've visited a pool while at Disney. POR pool includes a lazy river and a small, but fun, waterside. Also cast members come out and do activities with kids as well as DJ playing all the kids favorite Disney songs.

Games, balloon animals and dance parties and sidewalk chalk disney character drawing were all a part of our couple hours at the pool.


The girls loved it and it added some excitement for us on our arrival day since we had no park tickets because we decided last minute to leave The Villages (where we were visiting great grandma) and start our disney adventure a day early .

We loved the pool area and relaxation of the resort so much we decided to possibly add a couple days to our stay on our next trip to experience the resort fully.

The food court at Port Orleans Riverside is large and not over crowded. The food was quite good for counter service meals and we ate there twice as opposed to park counter service Everytime which is our typical routine.

The resort also has a table service restaurant that gets fine reviews, though I can't confirm not having eaten there.

The Royal Rooms accommodate families of 4. If your child is 2 and under they do not count toward your occupant capacity.

We like the room so much that we are considering going a week earlier than we normally do because our youngest turns three just before our usual week and will make us Ineligible to stay there again. If we get there even just a day before she turns three, in disneys eyes she remains two during our stay so I think that is our plan!

I (and my 3 princesses) highly recommend the Port Orleans Riverside Royal Rooms for anyone thinking of a moderate resort desiring more theming and a touch of extra magic.
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Thinking about staying off site? Check out Dwellable for some great nearby rentals!

Check out my new blog dedicated solely to Disney travel and if you need help planning a getaway click my travel button in the side bar. My services are free to you paid by Mickey!

 http://magicaladventuresbymandy.blogspot.com

Disney / Orlando on Dwellable

Make Something Monday: Peplum Skirt 2 Ways

Peplum skirts are in! I think they're so cute and rather British.

Today I set to work making them for my daughters' American girl dolls.

One short




One long




And two ways to make the peplums.

Peplum skirt: 2 ways

First you need to cut your fabric.

You need a waist band: 2.5x13.5

a strip for the peplum- info below

and the body of the skirt
4"or5" x13.5"


Also you need Velcro to fasten the skirt. Or if you prefer elastic just make your waistband in the way to make an elastic casing.

- Hem the bottom edge of your skirt.

Now on to peplums:

I did the peplums two different ways. Which way you choose determines the size of fabric.

The width is 26.5 " both ways. If you would like to make a duller peplum you can make it longer.

The first way I made the peplum was to cut the length 2" and hem the bottom edge by folding it under 1/4" and sewing.

On the short skirt in the picture this is the peplum you see. I do think in the future for a short skirt I will shorten the peplum length by half an inch.

The second peplum method was to fold the fabric piece in half, long sides together, making the folded edge the bottom of the peplum . Sew along the top edge to secure it.

To do this you need to increase your length to 4"instead of 2".

It is the peplum on the long version of the skirt and my preferred peplum.

I just think it has a nicer finish to it.

Once you decide on your peplum and sew it as directed above, run a gathering stitch.

I've found instead of pulling the strings after you run your gathering stitch, as I was taught, it's just easier to hold the thread taught up where it comes off the spool as you run the stitch. This gathers it as you are sewing and you can just even it out when done.

Gather the peplum to the width of your skirt.




Sew Onto skirt as directed.

Now take your waistband and fold it in half. Wrong sides together.

Simply place your folded waist band on your skirt and like up the raw edges of the waistband with those of the skirt and peplum. Sew in place.



All that's finished is to sew up the back.

Fold the skirt right sides together.

You don't want the peplums to get sewn into the back seam so pull them up out of the way.



Sew as directed above.

Turn skirt right side out.

Now sew the peplum ends.


Finally, add the Velcro to the waistband in typical fashion and you are finished!

I like both lengths. The short one looks like a fun shopping outfit and the longer one makes Izzy look like she's going to have tea with Kate Middleton.

The doll pictured is Ella's My American Girl doll found Here

She's one of our favorites. Very cute.

Insta Friday- January 4-10

Our week in pictures... Wasn't too eventful because we have some mean respiratory stuff going on.



Dr Heidi examining our doggie doo game dog to see if he's constipated... She didn't charge a house call fee




Sled riding




















Is it ever worth all the bundling? Mine stay out or such a short time!!!


Making thank you mugs . Not sure if they'll be washable - Pinterest project.




I made a pottery Barn anywhere chair type chair for American Girl Dolls this week. Tutorial http://nothingcanseperate.blogspot.com/2013/01/make-something-monday-american-girl.html?m=1

What did your week look like?

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Make Something Monday: American Girl Doll Anywhere chair

I've been making A LOT of things lately.

I'm not exactly sure why. Maybe it's left over initiative for all the Christmas items I intended to make but ran out of time for. Or maybe just being hunkered down for the holidays spending quality time together has me focused on things I can do at home...

One reason likely is the girls got some new American Girl dolls and its piqued my interest in making more things for them.
Ideally, I need to be making a bed since even though I made a lot mattresses, Ella has run out of bedding for her girls .

I'm really excited to rope my husband into some shared wood working time and making what seems to be an "easy" canopy doll bed at
Attempting Aloha

i don't have yet have the lumber or my husband completely sold on the idea, so in the meantime I scoured my burgeoning Pinterest boards to fine something to hold me over.

Luckily I hadn't burned all the doll boxes we received this year because I found a tutorial on how to make an Arm chair for your 18" doll.

She has you cut your box into two equal pieces- one on each end- saving the middle section for some lip thing that I am not sure is covered in the tute.

No lengths were given so I grabbed one of our new Caroline dolls to figure it out.

I found 7" to be a good length for the seat. I cut two intending on doing the design the blogger had done and saved the middle piece.
Upon stacking them I found that it was not going to be sturdy (it is cardboard) and decided to jangle from a full arm chair into a Pottery Barn Anywhere Chair
They don't have legs, just rest flat on the ground- so that's what I'm
going for.


To add sturdiness you could use thin plywood at that bottom or make legs from that- but if you're going that far why not make the whole project from wood- which looks easy and is my next plan after having asked my dad for power tools to borrow. Yay.
Also making it of wood requires planning and this is a project of impulse- which brings us to our next step.

- Find stuffed animals to sacrifice.
Now normal people would maybe go to a craft store and buy batting or poly fill but since I am the

"I just saw the most amazing project on the fabulous interwebs and I must MUST make it NOW" type of crafter, concessions must be made.
I see myself as Martha Stewarty Veruca Salt craft persona .



I find unnecessary stuffed animals and I gut them.

Sound harsh?

Not if you understand my kids rooms are filled to overflowing with stuffed animals.

Here's a picture from our "We leave for Disney tonight " announcement:




People, these are only the Disney stuffed animals- not even All of the Disney stuffed animals.
Downsizing needs to occur from time to time and this way I'm also "upcycling".

Eh, see there.... It's a good thing.

My two rules - nothing seriously beloved nor Disney goes away.




^ the victims.
The snow man is my decoration so it makes it even...




Stuff the insides.

It's easiest to do this by putting it in a baggy. Then all you have to do is staple the bag to the appropriate part of the chair.
I stuffed bags for the back of the chair and the sew cushion and two smaller ones for the arms of the chair.

How much you want stuffing to make each section is up to you.

Just make sure your Arms look even. I'm not sure mine completely do...

I stapled the arm padding on first, mostly to the outside and too of the arm going slightly over the edge to pad the inside a bit.Don't go overboard but make sure they're on good. You don't them coming loose once you permanently affix fabric and set your child loose to play with it.

No one likes a saggy chair.

I then stapled the back of the chair.




I used sandwich baggies as that is all we had and needed a second to fit across the whole back.

Obviously most makes up the front of the chair and I overlapped the top edge only a little mainly to secure.
I found when stapling its easiest to move the stuffing out of the way and staple mostly bag with a Tad of stuffing.

I had an awful mini stapler (impulse crafting ) so a decent stapler would be able to handle more.

Fluff everything out as best you can to prevent bumpy lumpiness and dolls complaining of sciatic nerve pain.




I used one for the seat cushion, heavily filled, though in hindsight I wish I had a larger bag. I may replace it later since the seat cushion is removable.

Now the fun part: "upholstery"

The blog I read got all fancy and hand sewed everything .
"Ain't got no time for that "

And so I pulled out my favorite crafting too:

My glue gun.

Starting with the sides I lined up the fabric how I wanted it to look and cut it. I made sure I had enough to cover the inside arm section down to the seat and half of the seat all the way to the back.


I folded the edge in slightly to make a seam when gluing at the corner where the side meets the back.

For the front of the arm- I really just folded it in to make it look the best I could and stapled.

Staples work fine on the inside that will be covered with the cushion. It gives a little more security than hot glue.

Repeat on the arm making sure the fabric is pulled taut.

When I measured for the back of the chair I included both the top head rest area cushion as well as the underneath of the chair.

Just drape it over all the sections and cut as needed.

I tucked the fabric under the top cushion, pulled tight and hot glued it down. You can also add staples if you use a small one you can maneuver underneath the cushion.

Once the cushion is secure pull the fabric tight over the back of the chair. I hot glued it to the back surface and then the bottom.

You may have noticed in the picture of the stuffing just stapled to the chair that the top cushion was a bit droopy. Once I hit glued and stapled the fabric around and under the stuffing and pulled the fabric Tight the stuffing lifted up to the proper place.

If doing the back and bottom together isn't working well for you, you can always do the bottom separate.

I included the little front lip of the chair in my measurements so the bottom section of fabric actually fastens in underneath where he seat cushion would be, covering the front and back in one step.

To finish off fold under the fabric at each side- where the Back meets the side to make seams.
I had plans to actually sew the cushion covering but the fact that it was 1:30 A.M. And my glue fun was hot and right beside me the thought of pullin my sewing machine out of its winter hibernation and fixing the broken needle from my last project lost any appeal.

So I simply wrapped the cushion like a present in the fabric, hot gluing it shut. I used all the same fabric but I think doing a coordinating fabric would make a cute look for the chair.

Maybe ill sew a cover for it for options.

It was a really fast, easy project and any child who can safely use a glue gun could accomplish it.

The only difficultly could be safely cutting the box apart.


And just like that Caroline had a new Pottery Barn Anywhere chair knock off!



Since it was hastily put together I want to make another one, more precise in my gluing and folding of fabric, but I'm please with it! Especially the fact it was free!

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Another Disney ... Year!

It's that time again!!!
Christmas is over so I need my next big planning/excitement fix . Ella's birthday is this month and all the ideas I've found are intoxicating- however something else keeps creeping into my brain....
WALT DISNEY WORLD!!!!!












I'm Incurable.
Maybe it's the annual New Years Eve promotional announcement during Rockin' New Years Eve.


Or maybe it's because the girls dance studio is currently there with the older girls for competitions and posting gorgeous photos.


Quite likely it's because that my cousin and her husband came in to visit yesterday and having just returned from the Most Magical Place on Earth and wanted to compare notes.


More than likely its just the allure of Disney World is strong enough on its own to make fans continually dream of going back. Well played, Uncle Walt, well played.


And so it begins....


As I just mentioned Disney just announced their yearly promotional- and what fun it will be!

This is the year of Limited Time Magic.

Initially it's sounds kind of disappointing.

Limited? At Disney World?!

But what it really means is Limited time Special magic.

Normal everyday magic still abounds-limitless.

The Limited Time Magic is comprised of special events, souvenirs, guests and activities sprinkled throughout the year- lasting only a limited time. Many cases lasting a week- sometimes a day as September 13 when Villains will roam the park. And yes, that 13th is a Friday....

Some magical events Disney has alluded to include week long celebrations of special days.

In fact, Wdw had a week long Bling in the New Year week that ended last night. One feature of this celebration was characters appearing in their New Years party garb.

Disney in its first announcement says :

True Love: Celebrate romance and enchantment throughout Valentine’s Week with special moments and entertainment geared to lovebirds. Disney Princes join their Princesses to meet park guests in special settings, prix fixe menus turn up at select restaurants and Valentine’s collectibles will be offered for the week.

Independence Week: It’s red, white and blue as Disney Parks salutes America with a 4th of July Fireworks Party — for an entire week, with patriotic lighting bathing the Disney castles on both coasts. Mickey Mouse appears in his patriotic finest and guests will find special USA shirts, Ear Hats and other limited-edition souvenirs.

Long Lost Friends Week: Lesser-known Disney characters will move from the shadows to the spotlight meet-and-greets on both coasts. Photo opps with characters that could include Flik, Clarabelle Cow, Remy, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum will surprise and delight guests. And Disney guests even have the chance to vote online for which characters they want to see.

Pirate Week: Why talk like a pirate one day when you could celebrate these scalawags all week long? The adventures of Jack Sparrow come to life like never before during a bicoastal buccaneer bash in which Disneyland and Walt Disney World become pirate-palooza: pirate bands, pirate meet-and-greets and more.
Dapper Dans Sing Boy Bands:

The Dapper Dans, the iconic quartet from Main Street, U.S.A., will add a special finale to their show, claiming the title of the “Original Boy Band” and delivering a medley of hits from One Direction, *NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys.

Unleash the Villains: Friday the 13th in September 2013 is a special day, so Disneyland park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios are staying open until the 13th hour (1 a.m.). Maleficent, Captain Hook, Jafar and other Disney Villains host a dance party, complete with limited-edition collectibles and other nighttime mischief.

Golden Horseshoe Revue: The fabled Frontierland show returns to Disneyland park for one month only, bringing back the corny jokes and enduring songs that were often enjoyed by Walt Disney himself.

Read more

What I gather is if you to to WDW during any random holiday- expect a weeklong theme geared to that day.

Weeks not having a holiday will have random pixie dust sprinkled on them.

I'd love to see some of the characters they hint about as our autograph books are nearly complete with the usual characters. In general I think they need to be either adding or rotating in some different characters from time to time. Even if just on weekends. Limited time magic or not!


Most experiences will be kept secret but announced the Friday before they begin. Limitedtimemagic.com is supposed to update with each announcement.

What possibilities would you like to see in this promotion?

I think in October a Haunted Mansion week would be great with the hitch hiking ghosts walking about and the infamous Lady with the parasol in the crocodile mouth doing meet and greets.

Maybe Nightmare Before Christmas characters making their rounds? Currently they appear at other parks (Disney land and Paris) but not WDW. Much to my 9 year olds dismay.

In addition to the magical events Disney announced a new sweepstakes . Go to http://disneytimesweeps.com/
To enter.

One vacation will be awarded every day in January! Good luck and May the pixie dust be with you!!

If that wasn't enough (is it enough?) 2013 has been deemed the Year of the Ear.




Each month a new special limited release set of ears will appear.
January kicked off with five new couture ears. See them here http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2013/01/five-new-disney-couture-ear-hats-kick-off-year-of-the-ear-at-disney-parks/
These are my favorite:




If you've been wavering on whether To go on a Disney vacation this sounds like it could be an exciting year to try!

There will be more promotions to come, keep an eye out for the free dining promotion that has happened the last eleven years from mid August through September.

It makes a Disney vacation much make affordable.

Also discounted room rates up to 30% are offered at various times.

Currently spring vacations February 18- March 23 and April 2 - June 14 are being included in this promo.


Check it out Here
You can book your Disney vacation up to 500 days in advance and make payments if that works best for you. You can change dates, rooms etc without a fee up unil 45 days before your check in date!

Remember some Limited Time Magic will be announced or hinted at- so if its important to your vacation keep checking on it.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone


It's that time again!!!
Christmas is over so I need my next big planning/excitement fix . Ella's birthday is this month and all the ideas I've found are intoxicating- however something else keeps creeping into my brain....
WALT DISNEY WORLD!!!!!












I'm Incurable.
Maybe it's the annual New Years Eve promotional announcement during Rockin' New Years Eve.


Or maybe it's because the girls dance studio is currently there with the older girls for competitions and posting gorgeous photos.


Quite likely it's because that my cousin and her husband came in to visit yesterday and having just returned from the Most Magical Place on Earth and wanted to compare notes.


More than likely its just the allure of Disney World is strong enough on its own to make fans continually dream of going back. Well played, Uncle Walt, well played.


And so it begins....


As I just mentioned Disney just announced their yearly promotional- and what fun it will be!

This is the year of Limited Time Magic.

Initially it's sounds kind of disappointing.

Limited? At Disney World?!

But what it really means is Limited time Special magic.

Normal everyday magic still abounds-limitless.

The Limited Time Magic is comprised of special events, souvenirs, guests and activities sprinkled throughout the year- lasting only a limited time. Many cases lasting a week- sometimes a day as September 13 when Villains will roam the park. And yes, that 13th is a Friday....

Some magical events Disney has alluded to include week long celebrations of special days.

In fact, Wdw had a week long Bling in the New Year week that ended last night. One feature of this celebration was characters appearing in their New Years party garb.

Disney in its first announcement says :

True Love: Celebrate romance and enchantment throughout Valentine’s Week with special moments and entertainment geared to lovebirds. Disney Princes join their Princesses to meet park guests in special settings, prix fixe menus turn up at select restaurants and Valentine’s collectibles will be offered for the week.

Independence Week: It’s red, white and blue as Disney Parks salutes America with a 4th of July Fireworks Party — for an entire week, with patriotic lighting bathing the Disney castles on both coasts. Mickey Mouse appears in his patriotic finest and guests will find special USA shirts, Ear Hats and other limited-edition souvenirs.

Long Lost Friends Week: Lesser-known Disney characters will move from the shadows to the spotlight meet-and-greets on both coasts. Photo opps with characters that could include Flik, Clarabelle Cow, Remy, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum will surprise and delight guests. And Disney guests even have the chance to vote online for which characters they want to see.

Pirate Week: Why talk like a pirate one day when you could celebrate these scalawags all week long? The adventures of Jack Sparrow come to life like never before during a bicoastal buccaneer bash in which Disneyland and Walt Disney World become pirate-palooza: pirate bands, pirate meet-and-greets and more.
Dapper Dans Sing Boy Bands:

The Dapper Dans, the iconic quartet from Main Street, U.S.A., will add a special finale to their show, claiming the title of the “Original Boy Band” and delivering a medley of hits from One Direction, *NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys.

Unleash the Villains: Friday the 13th in September 2013 is a special day, so Disneyland park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios are staying open until the 13th hour (1 a.m.). Maleficent, Captain Hook, Jafar and other Disney Villains host a dance party, complete with limited-edition collectibles and other nighttime mischief.

Golden Horseshoe Revue: The fabled Frontierland show returns to Disneyland park for one month only, bringing back the corny jokes and enduring songs that were often enjoyed by Walt Disney himself.

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What I gather is if you to to WDW during any random holiday- expect a weeklong theme geared to that day.

Weeks not having a holiday will have random pixie dust sprinkled on them.

I'd love to see some of the characters they hint about as our autograph books are nearly complete with the usual characters. In general I think they need to be either adding or rotating in some different characters from time to time. Even if just on weekends. Limited time magic or not!


Most experiences will be kept secret but announced the Friday before they begin. Limitedtimemagic.com is supposed to update with each announcement.

What possibilities would you like to see in this promotion?

I think in October a Haunted Mansion week would be great with the hitch hiking ghosts walking about and the infamous Lady with the parasol in the crocodile mouth doing meet and greets.

Maybe Nightmare Before Christmas characters making their rounds? Currently they appear at other parks (Disney land and Paris) but not WDW. Much to my 9 year olds dismay.

In addition to the magical events Disney announced a new sweepstakes . Go to http://disneytimesweeps.com/
To enter.

One vacation will be awarded every day in January! Good luck and May the pixie dust be with you!!

If that wasn't enough (is it enough?) 2013 has been deemed the Year of the Ear.




Each month a new special limited release set of ears will appear.
January kicked off with five new couture ears. See them here http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2013/01/five-new-disney-couture-ear-hats-kick-off-year-of-the-ear-at-disney-parks/
These are my favorite:




If you've been wavering on whether To go on a Disney vacation this sounds like it could be an exciting year to try!

There will be more promotions to come, keep an eye out for the free dining promotion that has happened the last eleven years from mid August through September.

It makes a Disney vacation much make affordable.

Also discounted room rates up to 30% are offered at various times.

Currently spring vacations February 18- March 23 and April 2 - June 14 are being included in this promo.


Check it out Here
You can book your Disney vacation up to 500 days in advance and make payments if that works best for you. You can change dates, rooms etc without a fee up unil 45 days before your check in date!

Remember some Limited Time Magic will be announced or hinted at- so if its important to your vacation keep checking on it.
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