Suitcase is Ready

Today I got my suitcase down from the shelf. I love my suitcase. It is from Brookstone. They don’t sell this size anymore, which is the 17″ but they do have the 20″ still available. When I got mine I bought one for everyone, 5 different colors(pink, green, red, silver, black), so that we all matched but matched our personalities as well. And as you can see I personalized mine with a Mickey Mouse half marathon sticker and a Tinkerbell Half Marathon sticker. I may add more if I find any worthy to go on the case.

I realize it is a bit early as I don’t leave for 44 days.  I just like to get it out, have it open under the bed so I can slip things in as I think of them. Then a few days before I leave, I officially pack. I am not sure what I am going to pack for this trip. It is my first time going in May. So I will have to be watching weather reports to see what kind of things will be necessity. Obviously I can’t wait to go, I would have been packed yesterday if I could.

Yo Ho Someone is 45

Today is the anniversary for one of my favorite rides at Disneyland. Pirates of the Caribbean opened in 1967. I first rode that ride 18  years later.  And after the first time I wanted to ride it again and again. Every time I ride it I swear I see something I haven’t seen before. And even now with the 2006 renovations to update the ride to be more like the successful movies, with the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow being seen throughout.  I am still seeing and comparing things from the previous model. What is your favorite part??

Also a Disney first opened the same time as the ride. That is the Blue Bayou restaurant. It is the first in-attraction restaurant. I have never eaten there before. But that is changing. I am eating there on my birthday! Which is May 4th. I am very excited. I have wanted to eat there my whole life. And I even ordered a Princess Birthday cake for myself. Gluten free carrot cake! I can not wait.

This is just one of my little trivia updates. I can’t wait to share more.

Can I Have Your Autograph

As many of you may know, one highlight for many at Disney Parks is obtaining autographs from all the characters. I personally have never done it. Mainly because I see collecting autographs in a book kind of pointless. Possibly a shirt or poster, but not on a book.

So I researched it. Found out characters will sign other things, you just can’t be wearing them. This made me very excited. Especially when I take the kids, they can have a lasting momento of their trip. So coming up with something creative, useful and lasting became my goal.

For myself I came across this drawstring backpack by Sharpie. It is a white drawstring backpack, and comes with four cloth markers in orange, pink, green and purple. I decided this was perfect. I can use it as a bag for the parks, and for the gym when I am at home. There is room on both sides to write, so I can collect plenty of autographs. I am so excited.

Now that I got mine out of the way it was onto the boys. Things I came across that I though fit the criteria were…

A tshirt. Have the characters autograph with fabric markers. Just be sure to have some cardboard or a clipboard so there is something stable to write on. This is something they could wear for sometime. Then when they outgrow it I could turn it into a bag. The only problem I saw was my little man, is well, a little man and the tshirt would lose real estate quickly.

A hoodie sweatshirt. Like the idea above, this could be something the characters could sign in fabric markers. Then the boys can wear them. The problem I saw was carrying around a bulky sweatshirt in 70+ degrees does not sound fun.

A pillowcase. This isn’t bulky and it is very useful. The boys could sleep on it and remember our trip to Disneyland. Then when (if ever) they get to big for it, I could turn it into a duffle for college or something.

Other ideas I saw that I wouldn’t consider but someone reading this may. Is a white baseball cap, a wall poster, or a photo mat, a photo book that has single photo holder (have characters sign page and photo slips in behind autograph), a school binder, a canvas tote bag, and story or character book.

The idea I decided on is complicated but the results will be amazing! I am taking six inch white and light colored quilting squares (and a clipboard). Going to have one or two characters sign each square. I am going to collect them all after our trip, and make a rag quilt, including some squares with pictures printed onto them, and preprinted character fabric. Then I am giving it to them for Christmas. I am excited about this. It is something they can have for years to remember our family trip.

If you have any other ideas or tried something else not listed, let me know. I am always open to new ideas. Have a magical day!