Life is a Precious Gift

Before I begin, I just wanted to say thank you to everyone for all the love, support and understanding that my family and I have received over the last few days, months and year.  Losing a loved one is never easy, but to lose them suddenly and without warning is a difficult thing to wrap your mind around.  There are still days where I know we all find it hard to believe.  My dad was an extremely happy go-lucky man, with an infectious smile and positive nature.  While I know our time together was cut too short, he would expect nothing less of us than to go on and live life to the absolute fullest.  So even on our roughest days, it's that knowledge, along with our amazing support network (like a simple daily text of a purple heart) that have kept us going these last 12 months.  We truly cannot thank you enough!

Dad was an extremely humble and generous man.  He believed in helping others in anyway he could.  He donated blood on a regular basis ... we always joked with him that he just did it for the cookies that they gave afterward, but we knew it was something that he felt very strongly about and continued up until the end.  Last year, he reached the amazing milestone of just under 15 gallons of blood donated during his 217 visits.  I learned from the Red Cross that each time he donated it saved at least 3 lives.  :)  

Dad was also an organ donor.  This should come as no surprise considering the above paragraph.  Lots of people are organ donors.  :)  But if you're like me, you really didn't think about the magnitude of what that actually means when they ask you at the DMV to check that little box.  Of course, you want to be able to help someone in need, but at that moment when they were asking me, I know I wasn't processing the importance of what I was signing up to do.  Until now....

When Dad passed, they took him to a hospital in Atlanta where they went through the surgical process of determining which organs, tissues, etc. that were viable to help save someone's life.  For some this may sound, morbid or even disrespectful but consider the thousands of families whose loved ones are just waiting on a list, hoping to receive a call that their prayers have been answered and a new heart has become available.  

My dad was an avid runner most of his life, he took great care of himself and made sure to take his vitamins everyday.  :)  But you don't always think of those things when you are grieving a loss.  It wasn't until my mom received the letter from the Organ Donation Network, that we realized that while he may have had a stroke ... the rest of his body was in amazing health.  He was able to help over 28 people!  In reading through the list, it appears the only major organ not viable was obviously his brain.  I won't go into great detail of everything else that they were able to use, but the Network stated that he was one of the healthiest people they had ever seen!  So even though we are grieving his loss, there are 28 people out there that are happy for having received a gift like no other.  

Now I realize that not everyone feels comfortable with the idea of organ donation and I respect that.  It's a personal choice that only you can make.  However I do encourage you to do some research and become more informed.  We as a family have learned a lot from this experience.  I know, for me, it has brought a greater understanding of what the phrase "the gift of life" actually means.  And simply putting an X in that box at the DMV means way more than just an X .... it's a privilege.  My dad was a remarkable human being, a kind and generous man... always thinking of others.  We couldn't be more proud of him and the amazing gift that he gave to those 28+ people ... Life.

XOXO
N

For the Love of the Cards & My Dad

I realize the 2017 baseball season is coming to an end, but I've been saving this post for just the right time.  As the one year anniversary of my dad's passing is days away, it seemed only fitting to share it now.  This past September would have been his 64th birthday, and as I have mentioned before ~ my dad was a die-hard St. Louis Cardinals fan.  So my mom thought it would be a great way to honor him by having our entire family attend a game.  

My beautiful Mom and her kids ~ one who was very thankful that she didn't have to stand on a step ladder or ledge this time.  :)

And with the grandkids, of course...

One of Dad's favorite things was to attend games where there were special items given out before the game ~ especially bobble heads.  This particular game was free Build-a-Bear Day, so each of the kids got a special dog to treasure.  

Growing up, each of our summer vacations always had to include a few things: an amusement park of some kind, a zoo and a baseball game.   My brother T was a huge baseball fan.  He collected pennants from every game we ever went to.  Eventually they became the decorative border around his room.  So of course, we had visited Busch Stadium before but it has been some time.  I will admit it's quite impressive!

And it had a spectacular view of the St Louis Arch!

Because we arrived early to make sure that the kids received a Build-a-Bear (as Dad always did for his beloved bobble heads aka as soon as the gates open), Mom took us across the street from the stadium to visit Cardinal Nation.  Due to Dad's need to get to most of the games early, my parents would often spend time here having a drink or sharing a meal before the game.  It's housed in the center of Ballpark Village and is home to several restaurants, bars and memorabilia.  A great place for any Cardinal fan to hang out.

Now before I go any further, I have to say that while my dad was a Cardinal fan ... I am not.  I am a Cubs fan!  We would always have friendly banter back and forth about the Cubs vs the Cards.  Usually, it didn't matter as the Cards were always better ... until last year of course.  In fact, that is ironically what the very last text I received from my dad was about.  The Cubs had just won the National League, so I sent him a screenshot of the Championship Banner.  All in good fun, only to receive the following message "Humm ...That is NOT a World Series Banner.  Good Luck."  :)  It wasn't long after that I felt compelled to send a text to his phone (knowing he would still get it in heaven) with a screenshot of the the Cubs World Series Championship Banner with the words "Now THAT IS a World Series Banner!  Love You."  So after hearing all of that, you can imagine my dilemma when my Mom suggested this idea in the first place.  Of course I wanted to honor Dad ... but did it have to be at a Cardinals game wearing a Cardinals shirt, no less!?!  Well obviously I made the sacrifice, as did my sister's boyfriend T who is a Royals fan.  The things we do for the love of another...  :)   However, I couldn't very well go into Cardinal territory without any protective gear on, so to speak.  It was my little way of saying, "Yeah Dad, I'm here.  But I came prepared."  

I will admit it was a good game.  But even more fun to just all be together.

Of course, no baseball game is complete without snacks.  Yes, we had popcorn, hot dogs, nachos and Cracker Jacks.  But the highlight was this helmet full of at least 50+ donuts (my nephew P's favorite thing in the whole world!)  You could have it just plain or add various toppings to it.  P & C were the brave ones to try this monstrosity.  Talk about sugar overload!  (FYI, neither finished it.  Thankfully... LOL!)

Midway through the game, my sister told us all to watch one of the signs ... confused we kept a close eye out not sure what to expect until to our surprise... a special message appeared wishing Dad a Happy Birthday!  There were no words ....

The Cardinals won!  Which meant fireworks, that I have to admit was pretty cool...

Then the kids got to have some fun!  After the field was cleared, they allowed the kids down to run around the bases with the Mascot, Fredbird.  L opted out, but Miss B & P ran like they has just hit the winning home run!

All in all it was a great day, even for this Cubs fan.  We all got to spend a day together honoring a man whom we love, in a way we know would have made him happy.  Especially since they won.  :)  Now, Mom is not one to let special occasions go without some unique way to commemorate it.  So as we were all standing about to say our goodbyes and hit the road.  She handed us all ornaments that she had made along with one of our favorite pictures of Dad.  My mom is one extraordinary lady!!  

I'm so glad that we all got to do this.  I know Dad was there with us, cheering on his Cardinals enjoying his time with the whole family.  Now while I might not be a fan of his team, I sure am a fan of him.  So even though their season is done, I will say this, once & only once, just for you Dad ~ Go Cards!!

XOXO

N

Happy Friday the 13th!!

On this Friday the 13th, it seemed only fitting to continue the underlying eerie feeling of the day with a tour of our family room decorated with all sorts of haunted delights.

I chose purple and black with touches of lime green for my overall color scheme.  This glitter witches boot vase was my inspiration.  I've had it for years!  The purple pumpkin came from the dollar section at Target and the googly eyed frame is the absolute easiest DIY project ever!!  Simply purchase a plastic frame from the Dollar Store as well as a variety package of googly eyes.  Then, glue them onto the frame in any random order for the desired effect/ shape you are looking for.  Then add a picture or in my case a spider for the finishing touch.  All in all, in took maybe fifteen minutes to complete and that's only to allow for drying time.  It's definitely an "eye catcher".  :)  

I use a lot of "webbing" in my Halloween decorating.  It's my own way of bringing a small portion of the Haunted Mansion into our home this time of year.  Every inch of that ride is just dripping with cobwebs ... how they make something as simple, yet disgusting look like art has always amazed me.

This is one of my favorite walls to decorate.  After adding the webbing, the spiders come out to play.  They are from a Martha Stewart collection I purchased several years ago.  They are a set of die-cuts made from cardstock, but by bending their legs a little and adding a tiny bit of sticky wall tack  ~ I am able to give them a more 3D effect as opposed to just flat against the wall.

Even the plants get special Halloween treatment...

The purple spiral picks are from Hobby Lobby and the witches boots I found with Mom in the floral department of our nearby grocery store.  They were just too cute to pass up!!

I mentioned the witch's boot as being my inspiration of sorts earlier, well that carries over to the antique door frame in our living room corner.  I wanted it to look like a spot that a witch might hang her broomstick and cloak after a night of flying about.

And no self respecting witch would be without her beloved black cat ....

Now while you may find spiders, witches, ghosts and skeletons creeping around, even though they are an extremely common part of most people's Halloween decor ~ you will NOT find any CROWS ANYWHERE in my home.  This black sparkly owl is the only bird allowed anywhere and that's simply enough for me.  (shiver...)

The "haunted" books were made by Mom a few years back.  She used old books from Goodwill, painted the covers black then went back over it with a silver sponge technique to give them the desired "aged" look.  Then she used a silver marker to label the bindings with spooky titles any good witch would have on hand.  You may have noticed a few more over by the Witch's door.  Those were made to pay homage once again to the Haunted Mansion, one of my favorite rides.  For those of you wondering who Madam Leota is ... she's the woman inside the floating crystal ball in the Music Room on the ride.  We learned all about her backstory when Honey & I took the Keys to the Kingdom Tour at the Magic Kingdom on our anniversary trip 2 years ago.  Hauntingly amazing!!!

My antique china hutch becomes home to our very own friendly ghost as well as more spiders that creep and crawl their way up the glass sides.  These spiders were also part of the Martha Stewart Collection from a few years ago.  

Our entertainment table is home to 3 of my most prized Halloween decorations ... personalized ceramic masterpieces made especially for each of our darling little (or not so little anymore) pumpkins.  They each light up and make me smile every time I walk by.  I added black garland around them for a little more effect.  

You may also notice the 3 skeletons as well.  These are the newest additions to my decor.  A friend of mine purchased these for her home & I fell in love with them so much that I had to go out and get a set of my own.  But when it came time to finding just the right spot for them, it occurred to me 3 kids ... 3 skeletons!!  Wonderful!!!  They couldn't have fit each one more perfectly.  So as the saying goes ...

Meet "See No Evil" ...

"Hear No Evil"...

"Speaks No Evil"

Lastly, I have to show you our decorated banister.  I wrap orange lights around it then cover that with another version of black creepy garland (both sets were purchased from Michaels).  Add a few purple flowers, glitter picks and pumpkins & the boring old railing is transformed into a delightfully spooky entry to our home.  I absolutely love the way it glows at night!

As I said before, I may not enjoy the scary parts of Halloween but I sure do LOVE to decorate for it.  Now if you'll excuse me ~ I need to explain to Honey, yet again, why I have no desire to watch a horror movie this evening.  Especially since it's Friday the 13th!!!  

N

"Wishes Wednesday" ~ Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique

When I think about planning a Disney vacation, I relate it a lot to how one begins to plan a wedding.  I know that may sound a bit extreme, but hear me out.  As soon you become engaged, there are 4 things that need to be decided right away ... 1) the date of the wedding 2) booking the site for the ceremony and reception 3) securing a photographer 4) hiring a caterer.  After you have those things nailed down, then you can begin to plan the rest ~ all those fun details that make your day extra special!!  Now Disney has devised a well planned out system for booking a vacation.   And in order to get the most out of your experience and make those memories that last a lifetime there is some planning that needs to be done almost as soon as you say "OK, Let's Go!"  1) decide when is the best time to visit 2) book a vacation package which includes choosing your resort, purchasing park tickets, and a dining plan 3) 180 days prior to your arrival date book all your dining reservations 4) 60 days prior to your arrival date book your FastPasses for the rides and attractions that you want to make sure not to miss.  Once you have those things figured out, you can plan all the fun little extras to make your trip even more Magical.  Now if you have never been to Disney World, that may seem a little overwhelming and extreme.  But trust me, it is all worth it!!  Just like a wedding, if you want everything to go smoothly on the BIG DAY... you have to plan.    If you want to make sure you don't miss out on anything that your family wants to see or do while on your vacation... you have to plan.  I hope over the course of time, I am able to give you a little insight into how we go about planning the details of our trips but today I thought I would start out with one of those "fun little extras" I mentioned.  The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique!!

Back in 2012, Miss B (at the adorable age of 5) got to experience the enchanted beauty salon that is Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique.  "Owned & Operated by Cinderella's Fairy Godmother", it's an enchanted salon run by some very special "Fairy Godmothers-in-Training" whose job is to transform young girls into beautiful princesses or boys into gallant knights, ready for adventure.  

There are two salon locations on Disney property, one at Disney Springs and another inside the Magic Kingdom itself.  Please note that if you choose to visit the salon inside the Magic Kingdom, a park ticket is required for entry into the park.  There are perks to both locations, it's simply a matter of preference.  For example, if you are lucky enough to secure a dining reservation at Cinderella's Royal Table ~ I would highly recommend visiting the Magic Kingdom location.  That way your princess can receive her royal treatment at the salon and then dine with Cinderella and a few of her Princess friends dressed especially for the occasion.  It's definitely worth it to see their faces light up as the Princess they are dressed as, greet them and admire their beautiful gowns and gush over how amazing they look.  We however chose the location at Disney Springs for Miss B's visit, because we had made plans to visit EPCOT then dine at Akershus in Norway.  This restaurant is also home to several Disney Princesses.  So it was a perfect day for Miss B to get all dressed up to meet her idol... I bet you can't guess who that might be.  :)

From the moment we arrived, she was treated like royalty.  It's a beautiful boutique that is definitely designed for that one-of-a-kind magical experience.  

Back in 2012, it was located inside the Wide World of Disney store.  It has since been relocated to the Once Upon a Time store in the Marketplace at Disney Springs.

Reservations can be made up to 180 days in advance (which I highly recommend!) and do require a valid accepted credit card at the time you book the appointment.  There are several package options to choose from, whether you are interested in the The Crown Package, The Courtyard Package or The Castle Package...the choice is up to you.  (prices range from $64.95 +tax to $199.95 + tax)  And for your aspiring Knights, the packages range in price from $19.95 +tax to $79.95 + tax.  I have seen many handsome young gentlemen at some of our favorite character dining spots that look extremely regal after having visited the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique.  So it is not just for young ladies.  Please note whether you are a knight or a princess, you must be between the ages of 3-12.

Upon check-in, Miss B was asked what Princess she would like to be (we purchased The Castle Package where the costume is included, however you are also free to bring a costume or special outfit from home).  As you may have guessed, she choose Ariel ~ her FAVORITE.  However the real decision was... is she going to dress as Mermaid Ariel or Ariel in her ball gown?? As you can see from the first picture, she chose to be a mermaid. (No surprise there!)  Next was to choose her hairstyle, which she choose the classic bun.  There are several options to pick from, even one with colored extensions for that extra bit of sparkle!  The Castle Package also comes with a crown and a wand, but we purchased the shoes as an extra add on.  Then we simply waited for her name to be called.  It wasn't soon after we sat down that we heard the words "Hear ye, hear ye ~ The Fairy Godmother invites Princess B to enter the Boutique!"  She even received her very own personalized invitation.  :)  

Once inside the salon, she was greeted by her very own Fairy Godmother-in-Training, Gladys.  She was absolutely wonderful!!!!  She led her over to a special door (aka dressing room) and explained to Miss B that there was something very special waiting for her inside but in order to open the door, she needed to say the magic words.  Any guesses on what those could be??  You guessed it, "Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo!" and magically the door unlocked to reveal Miss B's royal Ariel attire all laid out especially for her.  I will never forget the look on her face!   It was priceless!!

After a quick change into her new attire, it was on to the beauty chair ~ where the real magic began.  :)

First off, was her hair.  I just have to say after styling Miss B's long, thick hair all these years, this is no easy feat to accomplish.  But Gladys was truly a pro.  

She spoke with Miss B the entire time about Ariel, Flounder and all the wonders of the sea.  Telling her that Ariel comes to the boutique everyday with a special "Jellyfish Gel" especially made just for their salon.  It has to be special because once applied, that hair is going NOWHERE!  It says in that perfect little bun for DAYS, if you let it!!  lol!

As Gladys was working on styling Miss B's hair, her assistant came over to begin applying make-up and nail polish.  Talk about royal treatment!!

I just love her facial expression in this shot.  Inside I know she was beaming from ear to ear....I know I was & I wasn't the one being pampered from head to toe!

Then all that was left was for Gladys to put the finishing touches in her hair.  She did not stop til she got it absolutely perfect... crown and all!

They have these ingenious plastic face masks to cover their little faces as they spray more hairspray on top of Ariel's special gel.  Again... that hair did not move an inch, not even the slightest strand.  :)

Last but certainly not least, a special gem was added to Miss B's cheek and then Gladys brought out her special wand and sprinkled "Pixie Dust" all over her hair speaking the magical words "May all your dreams and wishes come true!"  (I'm not going to lie, I teared up just a little)

As if all this wasn't enough, each Princess also receives a special sash and cinch sack to take with them.  (Perfect to carry your change of clothes, make-up kit and nail polish in, I might add)

Again with the facial expression!  It's amazing, but some of these still come out every once in awhile even at the age of 9 (or almost 10, as I am now reminded daily).

After her beauty treatment was complete and Princess B stepped out of the chair, she was ushered over to sign the official Princess Guestbook.  Oh my gosh!  Once again Disney doesn't miss a thing!  Also, don't you just adore that little Hidden Mickey in the back of her bun!!!  LOVE IT!!

What an experience!!!  But it wasn't done yet!!  After we graciously thanked Gladys for her amazing work, we headed over to the nearby studio for Miss B's very own photography session!  

Back in 2012, this was included in The Castle Package.  It is now an add on.  If you have purchased the Memory Maker as part of your overall Vacation Package, this is included.  Otherwise, it is $32.95 + tax for 1 - 6" x 8" photo and 4- 4" x "6  photos in a special package.  (***Please note all these prices are subject to change at any time***)

Miss B .... my little model!

Overall, this has been to date, one of my favorite "fun little extras" that I talked about in the beginning.  Miss B had a blast doing it and I had a blast just watching her in awe of everything going on around her.  She still talks about the experience!  What made it even more special was when she got to meet Ariel at lunch later on that day all dolled up in her Mermaid costume.  Ariel was very impressed with her fins.  :)

So on that note, I will leave you on this Wednesday with the words of our Fairy Godmother-in-Training ... "May all your WISHES come true!"

XOXO

N