...random thoughts for the week...

I am slowly {but surely} getting back into the groove of things.

I had posted about not blogging in awhile because life got in the way.

Well, life is still marching on. 

I am currently battling Strep Throat.

Seriously.  I can't catch a break.

I think I have used all of my sick days.

I am too scared to look.

Here it is, the day before Easter and I am sick.

Strep is a funny beast.  I feel fine...get up and around to doing things...then crash and burn badly.

I think I am doing better, but then become tired very quickly and need to rest.

The house is a mess...we need groceries...laundry is caught up {thanks to Big Daddy}

However, I now realize that The Golden Girls is a great show, I can still recite most episodes of Roseanne word-for-word, and an episode of Hoarding: Buried Alive will get my butt in gear.

I am still on the fence as to whether or not we will be attending Easter Sunday celebrations tomorrow.  I have been on antibiotics for 36 hours now, so I should be good to go.  Of course, Big Daddy is now complaining that he isn't feeling well.  My luck, Little Man is a carrier now, too.  I don't want to get my nephews sick, I don't want to get my cousin's son sick.

The eggs are dyed, the cake is made.  We have no ham, we have no potatoes, we have no carrots.

I can throw something together, but it might involve bratwurst and macaroni & cheese.

We {seriously} need to go grocery shopping!!!

As I type this, I realize that it *might* be warm enough to grill brats tomorrow.  Might.

Last Sunday, we had 15+ inches of snow.

On March 24th, we were hit with the biggest snowstorm Big Daddy and I have seen in the ten years we have lived here.  It was the most snow Little Man had EVER seen {though he did not play in it}.

On March 24th, Big Daddy was almost on the phone with U-Haul to move back to Florida.

I still might consider it.

{love to all}

Life Happens

Yep.

Life happens.

Between the good {my Origami Owl business taking off, working 40 hours at my "part time" job during Spring break} and the bad {the snow, my recent bout of the flu and my mother's hospitalization (again)} life happened.

I have not had the time to sit and blog.

In fact, I am sitting in on an O2 webinar while I am writing this.

I am glad that life is happening, but I need a break!!!

Girls trip to New Orleans June 1 - 5.

That will be a nice break.

Origami Owl "Annua-Owl" conference in Phoenix, AZ from July 17 - 21.

Work???  A little.  Fun???  A LOT.

A family trip to Walt Disney World for Christmas...ON CHRISTMAS???

Yay!!  Yes, this is supposed to happen. 

Mom {while lying in her hospital bed} contemplated an ENTIRE family trip to The World to celebrate Christmas {ON Christmas}.  Daddy wasn't going to argue. 

We have been before Christmas.  We have been after Christmas.  I was there on Christmas {when I lived in Central Florida}.  This will be the first time the entire family will be there.

You know, even if the whole Christmas Day thing doesn't happen...I will be happy going whenever we go.

It has been too long. 

My Happy Place is waiting.

Love to All.

...Disney and Vera Bradley...

...all right...so Facebook and twitter are all a flutter...over *more* new Disney bags.

Nope...not Disney Dooney & Bourke bags.

Vera Bradley bags.

Hmmm.

Now, I will admit that I have never *owned* a Vera Bradley bag.  I honestly thought they looked a little old-ladyish.  They are sold at Hallmark stores.  They just weren't my style.

Until today.

Now, I am NOT giving up on my Disney Dooney & Bourke collection obsession.

Not at all.

But come on, how CUTE is this pattern?!?!?  {the black pattern on the right is the one that I am in LOVE with!!!}

source: Disney Parks Blog

Now...what I think still *weirds* me out a bit about the Vera Bradley bags is that they are quilted.

Of course, this is coming from a woman who carries a DD&B Sketch the size of a small suitcase.

I realize not everyone likes every style...and that is why I love that Disney is offering so many different options for adults.  We now have Dooney & Bourke, Harvey's Seatbelt Bags, Le SportSac and now, Vera Bradley.  I can't say that I am going to run out and buy the largest bag available.  I think I have to "ease" into these.  Maybe I will try a cosmetic bag first, and go from there.

I must say, Disney must be listening to their fans.  Every Dooney & Bourke Facebook fan page I belong to, has always had women *begging* for Vera Bradley

Good job, Disney for listening to what your fans want.  Thank you for bringing more stylish, fashion-forward options to us women {really, who wants a boxy old tee-shirt?!??!}.  Thank you for bringing us quality products.  Products that we don't mind investing in.

Thank you, Disney.

According to the Disney Parks Blog, these pieces will be available this fall at both the Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts.  There will be a "sneak peek" of the collection at the Festival Center at the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival that runs March 6th through May 19th, 2013.

source: Disney Parks Blog

If you see these bags up close, let me know what you think!!!  I am crossing my fingers that I get to go see the Flower and Garden festival this Spring...who knows!!!  I might get to take a closer look myself!!!

{Love to All}

New, Exciting Food Offerings at Epcot's Flower and Garden Festival

I am so excited for the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival this year.  I am even more excited than usual, because I actually might have an opportunity to experience this wonderful event again this year.  {I am keeping my fingers crossed that this might happen}

One thing that caught my attention while doing my research was the tie-in of new and exciting foods to sample at the Flower and Garden Festival.

To quote the Disney Parks Blog,“What a natural progression (it is) to go from the garden to the table,” said Michael Jenner, Epcot Park Event Content Development Manager.

That makes sense to me, for sure.  Just looking at the wonderful photos of the offerings makes my mouth water!!!

source: Disney Parks Blog

 

source: Disney Parks Blog

Holy smokes, those drinks look incredible.  The colors even scream "Spring" to me!!!

There seems to be plenty to sample, and something for every palette.  The Disney Parks Blog assures us that there will be NO repeats from the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, and that each marketplace will have three to four dishes.  Dishes I am excited to try are: the Pig Slider with Cole Slaw from The Smokehouse at American Advenure {YUM} and Heirloom tomatoes with house-made mozzarella, vinegar and basil from The Cottage in the United Kingdom.

Oh my goodness!!!  I will have to top it off with a "grown-up" Dole Whip with Florida-made spiced rum.

Luckily, there is plenty of walking around this incredible festival to burn off those calories!!!


Disney is not forgetting the kids during this event.  Disney chefs have chosen some new and fun dishes to encourage children to try as part of Disney's new TRYit! campaign.  TRYit! is part of Disney's ongoing Magic of Healthy Living campaign.  I know I have been able to get Little Man to eat more better and become more active because of their efforts.

I think I might be inspired to try some of these "kid's" dishes, myself!!!  The Wild Berry Slush, Frushi {fruit sushi}, Lasagna Primavera, Watermelon Salad and Angel Food Cake with Florida berries sound delightful.  I think Little Man would like these, as well.

Are you planning a trip to the Walt Disney World Resort this Spring???  The Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival runs from March 6th to May 19th.  Need help planning your trip???  Contact me for a free, no obligation quote!!!

{Love to All}

...I have a new attitude...

{my outlook has changed dramatically since my blog post last night...a good night sleep, being with my family, food in my tummy (I think being hungry/not eating right doesn't help my situation)  It truly shows the highs and lows of this mental illness}

I am a creature of habit.  I am set in my ways.

I am co-dependent.

I can tackle this.

One day at a time.

I regret not going out with my friends last night.

I regret making my self sick with anxiety.

Today is a new day.

This is going to happpen.

{Love to All}

...apparently blogging is the cheapest form of therapy...

...so, here it is...Saturday night.  I am all dressed up with someplace to go.

However, I am not there.

I am trapped.  Trapped by my own anxiety.  My own illness.

Yes, I said illness.

Big Daddy is working.  Little Man is at a sleepover.  I am *supposed* to be at a going-away party for a co-worker.

A co-worker who I love, a co-worker who I adore, a co-worker whom I will miss.  Greatly.

I am showered, dressed and have my make-up just right.

However, I am sitting on my couch.  Paralyzed.

I got the text asking if I was making it to dinner.   I said I wasn't feeling well {it isn't a lie...I'm not felling well.  I am making myself sick.} and would try to make it to bowling.

However, I am not going to make it to bowling.  My mind is all over the place.  Irrational fears.

Some of my anxiety is tied to my weight.  I am certain of this.

I used to go out and have fun all of the time.

That was over 100 pounds ago.

Now I am afraid to talk to people.  People that I see every day.  I do not understand this.  I am afraid that they think I am stupid.  I am afraid they think I don't know what I am talking about.  I am afraid that I won't have anything to say.  There I'll be, the fat girl in the corner...with her Diet Coke and chicken nachos.  Everyone will be watching the fat girl eat.  Thinking how dare she go out with her friends.

This is not limited to my co-workers {whom I consider friends} but my dearest friends in the world.  Friends whom I have known for 25+ years.  Yes, we are spread out over the country...but my dearest friend lives a mere 20 minutes away...and I don't see her all that often.  That is wrong.  I even avoid my extended family.  I don't understand.  I can stand in a room full of twenty women and chat up jewelry.  I can talk to the person in line at the supermarket about how to plan the best Disney vacation ever.  People I see everyday.  They judge me.

I am embarrassed and ashamed.

I can take my meds.  I have been taking my meds.  They make me loud.  Loud and chatty.  That might help me in my current social anxiety situation.

However, I don't think it will.

When I take my pills, I start talking to the girl at the Costco photo center about my love of WWE's Edge.

Seriously.

One extreme to the other.

So here I sit.  On the couch.  In hiding.  

Avoiding life.

Something has to change.

{Love to All}