Disney Fun - My Future as a Baton Twirler?

Well, last weekend, Mike and I headed to Disney. I had to be at a conference for work starting on the 20th, so we took advantage and spent the weekend before at the parks.  Mike was in charge of finding a hotel for the weekend, since I was staying at the Contemporary for the conference, and we didn't want to spend $350 a night!

He found the Wyndham at Downtown Disney through a discount available to employees at AT&T.  We thought the Wyndham was a good name and the hotel would be okay. Apparently, they don't think much of their employees.

We got there (after a way-to-brief stop at the outlets) and found that we were in an "outside" the Tower room with external access, next to the loading dock. Even better, it was a room designed for disabled access. This meant all the controls and hanging rods were waist high. The best part - the shower and toilet were all in one area with no divider! Mike even took a video and posted on his facebook with a video tour.  Hotel Room - deeply discounted..... Look on Mike's face - PRICELESS

We were there over President's Day Weekend, so everything was pretty crowded, but on the plus side I learned that there is a Vera Bradley outlet in Orlando!

We decided to purchase Annual passes while there. We plan to head down a lot this year, and with an annual pass, you get free parking and discounts on Disney merchandise, restaurants, and hotels (no more Wyndham!).

We spent most of our time at Magic Kingdom, where Mike totally kicked my butt at Buzz Lightyear and I remembered how much I LOVED the Electrical Light parade.

But as a special treat before the light parade, we had a parade of baton twirlers from all over the country. Before I jump into this, let me just say that as a child, I ALWAYS wanted to be the one wearing the sparkly costumes, and if it came sequins and boots with fringe - I was all in. (Apparently as a child in the mid-to-late 70s, I also refused to wear pants of any kind and preferred full-on dresses with crinolines or short-shorts. Not sure if I planned a future as a Dallas-cowboy cheerleader or some other less savory profession.)

Anyway - back to the twirlers... We had great seats for the parade - on the cement curb in front of the train station. (When I say great seats - we could see everything up close, but my rear end was completely numb when I stood up.) I was watching the twirlers and mentally judging their costumes (ugly,  cute ribbons, too short, spandex pants?, oohhh sparkly!)  Mike was amusing himself by playing games on his i-Phone. Then we heard a cheer from the people on the parade route before us.

Coming down the road, twirling their hearts out....... the Senior Adult women of Texas! They were wearing short sparkly red skirts, white/blue tops, with sequined silver cowboy hats and white fringe boots! Not a one of them was under 70!  I am ashamed to say that I did not snap a pic. I was way too emotionally involved in the cheering. The absolute best part was the lady who was being pushed in a wheelchair - just a-twirling away!

I just could not help myself - I joined the standing ovation and cheering. I think it's fantastic to see older people who are active and really enjoying themselves (especially in glitter boots with fringe).  I hope I have the moxie (and the legs)  to twirl at Disney when I'm old. Of course, Mike would be far too embarrassed to push my wheelchair!

Hmmm..  I wonder if it's too late for me to take baton lessons......

Anyway... off to pack for a trip to Newark (again for work). From Disney to Newark... what a difference! The happiest place on earth to..... well.... Newark. 

Busy Month Ahead!

So how come it feels like Fourth of July is right around the corner, and Thanksgiving is just down the block? I feel so pressed for time right now, but was remembering how the months of January through may just D....R....A.....G......G.....E......D by when I was in school. I couldn't wait for the summer, then it was here and I was ready for school to start up again.  (Which probably indicates a complete inability to be content and appreciate the moment.)

Now, I'd settle for an un-busy weekend! But, it doesn't look like that is in my future.

This weekend, we are all about getting hair done, Dish Network installed, and getting the Westside house ready for renters (an answer to prayer, and a story for later).  And my favorite - Inaugural Girl's Night!

 Next weekend - Disney here we come!

I have a work conference from the 20th to the 22nd to go to in Orlando (at the Contemporary) and I am so excited to stay at the original monorail hotel!!!  Mike and I are headed down the weekend before to relax and play at the parks. We'll get our FL Resident Season passes and try to spend more time down there. (I have a feeling I might not be having dinner at the conference - not with a pass and monorail access!)

We'd have done the Play Three Florida resident special, but it isn't good on a holiday weekend. President's Day... while I'm grateful for the holiday and would normally be off work, it seems a little dull. I think there should be great holidays like Queso&Chip Day - where there are no calories and Carb day - where you can eat all of them without "carb-face" the next morning.  (Can you tell there have been no carbs for a few days? I'm, a little obsessive.) Oooh or how about mani-pedi day where there is no guilt because you should be more productive.

I'll be back sometime on Wednesday, then on Sunday, I'm headed to Newark. (Could I write that with any less excitement? Probably not.) It's a great opportunity for work, but really.... Newark?  I'll be back in town sometime on the 2nd of March, assuming I can get out of Newark on time (I'm not sure that's even possible!). And there you have it - the rest of my February....

By the way - I feel like I should admit that I think my Couch to 5K iPhone app is mocking me.. When it says, let's run - it sounds all sarcastic, like "let's see if you can do it, sucker." Then when she says, "whew, that was tough," I think her tone says something different. "That was tough for you maybe, but I think a beached beluga could have done it without the heavy breathing."  Now that I've added emotions to my iPhone app, and not just emotions, but mean girl emotions, I think my work here is done tonight.

Pinterest .... Socially Acceptable Addiction

My name is Christi and I'm a frustrated pinaholic. I love the idea of Pinterest and have pinned my share (or more if you ask Mike) of stuff. However, it has the tendency to make me feel just the slightest bit (or more) inadequate.

I feel like if I was a better person, I'd make my own cleaning products, mod-podge, marshmallows, and cook dinner every night from scratch, while whipping up a wreath for every season/holiday and making my own cards and gifts (specifically body scrubs and bath salts).

But I live in the real world where I have a demanding job. I have to admit:  I'm not a better person and my front door is currently wreath-less, often my dinners are catered by Subway or even better, the Chicken House, and I have a whole bottle of mod-podge (bought at Hobby Lobby, thank you very much) in my craft room (aka my back porch) just waiting for me to get crafty.  (What a run on sentence! Mrs. Proctor would be horrified!)

Speaking of making my own, I totally feel the craft itch right now, and I have a 25% off coupon at Michaels that is calling my name! But in the spirit of being totally transparent - I should go running, I should pre-chop all my fruits and veggies for the upcoming week, and I really should work on organizing my upstairs office..... I'll probably go to Michaels and buy something to put on my front door!

Mike literally just walked by my computer and asked if I were pinning, and said to me that he thinks this is an addiction that women should not have.  Which begs the question, what addition should women have?

Happy Pinning!

I'm a Star...

I'm a star.... or a quick soundbite for a desperate reporter! Last week, I was walking the bridges with my BFF, Ellen - a star herself (who totally talked to Jim Bob Duggar over the weekend!)  We made a loop of the Acosta bridge and were headed toward the Main Street bridge when a woman stopped us and wanted to know if she could ask us something. I thought she was lost or needed directions...

It was much worse. She was a reporter for Action News (Channel 30). She asked us about a recent study that said Jacksonville had the lowest unemployment rate for those aged 18-34. I had read the article earlier and so I knew the study wasn't totally accurate. I told her I had read the article and she was all over it. Now keep in mind, I was sporting a neon green Under Armour top,  black capri leggings, and neon green Nikes (courtsey of above BFF).  As a side note, I have the best BFF ever for a multitude of reasons, but the cherry on the top is we wear the SAME SHOE size. It's like we were meant to be BFF! I was not television ready, but said I'd do it! Ellen, wisely said she was not going on camera!

I had to spell my name and answered six questions, which later got reduced to two 10 second sound bites. As soon as I did it, I thought I might throw up. Why in the work had I agreed do this?

Anyway after I headed home, I told Mike, and we watched it. I then threatened him with everything I could think of if he shared it on social media of any kind.  I did not even call my parents. Then I prayed NO ONE ELSE would watch the news.

No such luck! During the broadcast, a lady I work with texted me. She must have told everyone since I walked in the next morning and they were immediately was teasing me about it. People I ride with in the elevator said, "I saw a woman who looked just like you on the news last night." I just smiled and said, "Really?" Of course I had to admit it to the people I knew! (I was just very vague about it to everyone else... neither confirming nor denying!)

It died down... or so I thought. My mother called today, a full week after the event. My high school English teacher, Mrs. Proctor, saw me and told Mama. Now I'm in trouble for not telling them. Mama said they would have watched it if I had called them. I had to remind her that's why I hadn't told ANYBODY!

Anyway - that was probably my one and only brush with fame and I was wearing neon green Under Armour, and had bad bridge-walking, sweaty hair. I'm pretty sure America's Next Top Model will not be calling. But I did have to wait a week to write this post so that the clip would no longer be online!

This and That

It's been a "blah" sort of few weeks after the holidays. I think this happens every year, but it was especially obvious this year. We had a wonderful Christmas in Missouri with the Mahans, then came home to spend some time with Beth, Terry, and the star of the show, Tristen! We spend NYE at my mom and dad's with the entire Conner side of the fam, and I was off work for two weeks!  Then reality set in: I got sick, went back to work, had an empty house, and had to face un-decorating for Christmas.  It just feels a like a let down. But finally around mid-month, I start to bounce back.

I started the Couch to 5K plan. I've been doing a run/walk thing for a while, but I'd like to run an entire 5K. This plan promises to get me there in nine weeks. I bought the app that goes with it, so that a nice lady can interrupt my play list to say really encouraging things, like: "Whew.. alright let's take a walk break" and "Ready to run?" I generally want to say NO, but I do it anyway.

I've also been cooking more, which hopefully supports my efforts to lose weight and be more healthy. My stuffed peppers turned out really well. The chicken and rice was okay, but the ham needed some work.

I find it hard to cook a lot during the week, when I don't get home until so late, after working a really long day. Otherwise, it's 8:30 or later by the time we eat, which really seems too late, but a girl has to do what a girl has to do.

We had our first weigh in with Weight Watchers, which went really well. Like J-Hud (I like to call Jennifer Hudson J-Hud - it makes me think we could be close) said, "I got this." I've also downloaded her new book and will be reading it this week!

I've also been playing with my new toy!

Mike gave me an iPhone 4S and I LOVE it. I'm never bored, ever. I also have a new cover from Three Hip Chicks, which I love (both the cover and the website!):

You might notice a theme between the cover and the blog. As I mentioned, I may or may not be obsessed with a little black, white, hot pink, and damask. Mike said it wasn't very protective, but I said it was beautiful and monogrammed, which trumps practicality and I promised to be very careful!

I've also been very obsessed with Pinterest! I've managed to make various relatives just as obsessed, and I tend to feel better about my own addictions when I know others are in the same boat.

Yay! I have a beautiful new blog. I knew these technical skills were well beyond my abilities, so I enlisted The Cutest Blog on the Block. Jenn did an amazing job! I may or may not be slightly obsessed with black, white, hot pink, damask and monograms. This ties it all in together and it's very "me"!  My hubs would definitely say I am obsessed. I prefer to think of it as channeled thinking!

Speaking of my journey to better spiritual and physical health, I think I NEED this adorable planner from Tiny Tulips.  (I hope my hubs is reading!)

Fresh Start 2012

I always feel like the beginning of a new year is time for fresh starts, so I decided to start a blog and put my goals out on the internet for the world to see. Hopefully this will help my accountability and not add to my shame! (However it's probably only of interest to a few small groups with the last names Mahan, Conner, and Williams.)

My goals are to become more healthy this year, both spiritually and physically. For part 2, I enlisted Weight Watchers, and for part 1, I'll start a new reading plan with You Version. I'd like to read through the New Testament and really dig into it.

Today is the last day before I go back to work and the insanity. I feel like I should be super-productive today and remove and re-pack all Christmas, deep clean the house, start a new journal, and cook all meals for the upcoming week in advance. However, in the spirit of being honest and transparent, I'll probably just snuggle with my nephew Tristen (see the adorableness above) and maybe get a mani-pedi!

My sister, brother-in-law, and sweet, precious Tristen have stayed with us over Christmas and it's been so fun! They are leaving for home (Italy) tomorrow, and I will miss them! Thank goodness for Skype and Facebook!

Happy New Year to everyone!