Fourth of July!

I didn't really have anything special planned for 4th of July this year since originally it was my day off alone. So I was going to celebrate by doing laundry (hey, it's Monday, Monday is laundry day), eating a patriotic cupcake and having my favorite cocktail at my favorite resort.

But my husband managed to get the day off with me. So the day was still spent doing laundry. Then we headed over to the Polynesian resort where I had my heart set on Kona Cafe but he suggested his favorite place -- 'Ohana. Now, 'Ohana is kinda like Chef Mickey's, it's almost impossible to get a reservation there. But since he suggested and he never really says "hey, let's go here." I decided to go with it. So we stood in the stand by line waiting for cancellations for about two hours before I decided to visit the sushi bar and get something to snack on (and OMG I've found a new obsession, will post a picture when I go back next week. Seriously, this sushi is amazing. Do I really have to leave Walt Disney World in 4 weeks?) and while I was waiting for my order he comes back and says it's okay we don't really have to go and I got sad cause I know how much he LOVES 'Ohana and he goes "because I got a pager!" jerk.

I spent most of dinner eating salad, bread and noodles. And shrimp. I'm not too crazy about 'Ohana like he (and almost everyone else) is but I do love their coconut pineapple bread and the shrimp. As soon as we were seated and the shrimps came around he asked for an ENTIRE skewer. So every time our server passed by he would pick on my husband about taking his whole skewer lol!

I'm sure he probably ate our entire bill in shrimp!

Finally got to try their talked about bread pudding which was really really good! But of course, the star of the dessert was the Mickey sprinkles in the back! I'm such a sucker for Mickey sprinkles!

Right when our dinner was ending, the firework show at Magic Kingdom  was starting like everyone in 'Ohana stopped eating and everyone was staring out the window. I should had taken a picture, it was kinda creepy haha! We raced downstairs to the beach and watched the fireworks. I have pictures, but they're on my other camera and I don't feel like switching them right now. I'm not a fan of fireworks but OMG, best 4th of July firework show I've ever seen. It hit me, I'm watching the 4th of July firework show in Walt Disney World and in that moment, my life was complete. Seriously, it was such an amazing feeling.

After the fireworks and a bit of pin trading we took the guest bus to Downtown Disney.

Paid a visit to my home store that I miss sometimes. I use to be one of the people who stitches the names on the back of the Mickey ears hats.

Went to Art of Disney next door and fell in love with this Sleeping Beauty trio set. $700. One day!

Then we made our way over to Westside to see how my friends were doing. Did some pin trading at D-Street and headed over to bother the people in Candy Cauldron production. It was Emily's second to last day so I was hoping she would be there.

And she was! Megan was there too. Were these the only two people in kitchen production on the 4th of July?! They put on a show for us and I snapped a bunch of pictures. It was funny cause Megan went into the stock room and pulled out the cotton candy machine cover and put it over Emily's head lol! Weirdo!

I was trying to see who else was back there and Emily swung the door open and I tried to get Justin to come out into the kitchen but he's in his D-Street costume lol. See Candy Cauldron's itty bitty stock room? To the left is the merchandise and to the right is our 3 compartment sink where we wash dishes. Yeah, not much room for walking!

But aw, my favorites!

And of course, the cupcake I mentioned. It was delicious. And the frosting is buttercream!

Give it a try next time you're at a Disney park. It's under $3 and it counts as a snack on the snack plan :)

Hope everyone had an awesome and safe 4th of July!

5 weeks left...

I can't believe my program is already coming to an end, it feels like I literally just got here. I have a little less than five weeks left of work and as of today, five weeks left in Orlando. 

I was on the bus ride home from Port Orleans last night (only took me 6 months to finally visit that resort) and it hit me, how sad I'm going to be when I close the door to my apartment one last time. How sad I'm going to be on the flight back home and how sad I'm going to be when I'm sitting in my own room across the country from my friends and from Walt Disney World.

This program has literally changed my life. These people have changed my life. These experiences, memories and struggles, have changed my life. This has been one of the most amazing experiences of my life and I'm so happy that I did go through with it. 

I'm hoping to catch up on some blogging on Monday since I'm off and it's 4th of July. I'm debating on where to go since I'm trying to avoid the parks, I'm sure they will be packed beyond packed so I'm not even going to bother! I'll probably get a cupcake and dine at the Polynesian resort!

I seriously can not imagine my life without Magic Kingdom, Candy Cauldron, pin trading and buying choco covered marshmallows whenever I want :(

Ahhhh!

I'm hardcore craving a choco dipped strawberry and a toffee slab. Mmm! But I'm too lazy to go out and get one.

I know I've been suuuper slacking on posts and I know I always say that but legit, there isn't much to say around here but even when there is, I'm usually too tired to update.

Worked 9a-3p at Candy Cauldron the last two days. As much as I suck at waking up early, it's always nice to come home while the sun is still up.

Yesterday it was just me, Matt, Honeyvie and Elizabeth opening. But it was a lot more eventful than today, we got Selma's in yesterday, yay! But today we ran out of white choco chip cookies. Whuuut. I know, right? Robby also spent all yesterday morning making Mickey out of our twist ties LOL! Honeyvie was waving it around like "it's a cat! it's a cat!" LOL! Also I save a ton of money by being at work early because I can't eat that early so I never finish my Chicken Parm sandwich from Nick's. Saving money right there!

After work went home and found a gift from husband on my night stand, a Cheshire Cat toy. One I wanted when we first got here. Aww, thanks love!

I wanted to treat him to Ohana but he called and they said they were all booked up and he didn't want to wait for an opening so we didn't go there. We decided to go to Animal Kingdom Lodge since we haven't been there yet and so we're waiting for the bus and this wicked STORM hits. Like, strong winds, rain, thunder, lightning, the whole thing just at the same time. It was insane, sounded like the sky was cracking open but it was relaxing and awesome. I loved every minute of it! 

So we get toe Animal Kingdom Lodge and didn't know there were two sides but OMG that place is beautiful! It's dim and relaxing and there's animals out back that you could watch. Amazing. We ended up eating dinner at Boma (now can cross that off the list) and man... should just waited on Ohana. We weren't impressed, that's all.

Today it's pretty hot and sunny out. Work was slow, boring, nothing interesting happened. The new caramel... I'm not a fan of. It puddles, not cool. I slightly regret not going to Earl's and Goofy's but man... the Maketplace is so far from West Side when it's like 90 degree's outside. And I didn't want to wait on another bus if I missed one. So I just went home. Husband was late for his bus so I spent a little bit of time with him at the bus stop. Poor thing. 

Going to attempt to make pineapple fried rice some time today. Was hoping to go to Wal Mart, but the bus stops running at 630 (yeah it's one of those days). Hate that. I also hate how it's like a million degrees outside but it's always freezing in my apartment! Can I get some room temp in here?! I'm having a war with myself about if I should go out today since I'm home early or just stay home and relax. Even though I know I should stay home and relax considering that I have two 9hr shifts ahead of me before my next day off *sigh* well at least I'll get to see that money! Unlike this week. Darn missing rent.

My cousins from the Philippines are at my parents house and I'm looking at their pictures and it's making me miss home so much. I have about 7 weeks left here in Orlando and that's insane to think about too. I miss home but I know I'm going to miss Orlando and Disney World so very much when I leave. I'm coming back, of course, but it's going to be so weird to be so far away from it all and from my friends. I should probably start packing and stuff now though lol. I know those 7 weeks will go by fast!

Also, inspections #4 (are we on #4?) is coming up next week. Ughhh. Inspections!

I totally fail.

Oh mannn I totally fail at updating this blog (and every other blog I have. I fail at Tweeting, come on now, like that takes time)! It's been crazy busy here because of Grad Night weeks and the heat is moving on in. It's been SO hot and humid here lately that some days I just can't stand it! And everyone keeps saying it gets worse in August! Could it REALLY get worse than THIS? 

I have so much to update on!! My birthday, things that are going on and the formal that was last night! I don't want to cover those things because I want to make a separate post so I'll just update on the things that are going on.

The Spring semester is ending in about a week and a half and that's just so hard to believe. It feels like we just got here and I say that because if I had not extended, I would be going home in ELEVEN DAYS. That just blows my mind! It's already May?! But just because I'm not leaving doesn't make it less sad. ALL of my friends on West Side are leaving. I think there's about 3 or 4 of us that are staying. A few people have "end of program" over their work times on the schedule and it's just a damn reminder that they're leaving soon :( I'm seriously sad! I love the people I work with, I love the new friends I've made and it's hard to imagine West Side without them. Kinda makes me wish I had extended into a different area or into something else. Even though I love West Side.

Husband extended into Merch so that's exciting. It's his last week or so at Buzz so I took a bunch of pictures of him today there and a few with some of his friends. He's going over to Hollywood Studios, pretty exciting, at least I think so. I wonder where they'll deploy him to!

Someone stole 17 Muppet Vinylmations from D-Street the other day. From what I heard they left the boxes in the case but took the Vinylmations. How the hell they got away with that is beyond me. And why would you leave the boxes?! I think putting new releases by the door are a bad idea. I mean I get the purpose, but I don't think there should be that many boxes up there.

I still think Pin Cart should had followed Mickey's Groove and went away.

I've been hanging out with Kiersten a lot lately and going to Micky D's with Betsy a lot too. I'm going to miss West Side Micky D's trips.

I washed my clothes and forgot I had a BBQ sauce in my pocket (I checked ALL of my pockets except my hoodie, wth was I thinking) and I got BBQ sauce ALL OVER my clothes and towels. I was suppose to re-wash everything today but I had no money for laundry. Why can't it just take debit like everything else. Ugh. I'm so upset right now. 

Did I mention a girl my husband works with asked him to the formal? She knows he's married, she's hung out with me a handful of times and always acts like she's happy to see me with her hugs and crap but... asks my husband to the formal. Oh and then, the next day, she invited him to hang out with her at the pool. Uh, what?

What else?

Lately I've been breaking out like crazy. But you didn't need to know that. 

I'm going to go resize pictures and make a post about the formal now lol.

Not cool Florida, not cool!

I finally found a Chase bank in Orlando and I finally made it to the Florida Mall! Horray! 

We took the A to TCC then took the Lynx bus to the mall. I was told that the bank was across the street, but that's not really the case (though there is a Lollicup across the street, didn't expect to see that outside of CA). It's across the street but down the street to the next shopping plaza. Which can I just say, is awesome? They have a Panda Express, Chipotle, Cold Stone, Ulta, Petco, TGIFriday's, Publix, and a bunch of other stuff. I went lightweight shopping at Ulta and had Panda Express for lunch. Ohhh sweet junk food!

Went back to the mall and did some shopping; got my chocolate strawberry gems from Godiva, a few stuff from Bath & Body Works... mostly an air freshener for the living room, shoes and a perfume from Payless. I didn't get anything from LUSH (I moved out and I still can't take bubble baths, lame) or MAC (smallest MAC store I've ever seen) and I couldn't find anything I really wanted at Sephora, besides my Pink Sugar perfume but I decided to get that later.

The mall is pretty small, it's one floor and it kind of reminds of Great Mall, where you just walk in a huge circle. They have a KFC express which means no mashed potatoes, honey BBQ wings or pot pies... wth? I was so close. Argh. Is there a KFC in Orlando?! I'm missing my fast food! Oh I also got new jeans because I don't fit a size 1 anymore. No, I'm not kidding, seriously, I've never been anything over a size 0 and now that I'm 25 I'm hitting a size 2. It's insane and I'm pretty excited about it! Being a size 0 sucks.

We were leaving the mall and it started raining so as we're walking across the parking lot, it starts POURING. Out here when it rains it pours! We were soaked half way to the bus stop and it was just across the parking lot! OMG. It was storming like I've never seen before! Then the thunder and lightning hit. If you told me three months ago that I'd be standing at a bus stop in the middle of a freakin thunderstorm, I'd tell you that you were trippin. But there I was. Waiting for a bus in a thunderstorm. Not very princess like is it? Growing up sucks. At least the bus seat was heated.

We got off at TCC again and took the A there instead of at Disney Uni, in case it was crowded. So that saved a ton of irritation. We got off at home and as we were walking to the apartment there was a bright as flash of lightning and I was like "OMGOMGMOGOMG" and loud thunder. I actually screamed haha. But I have to admit, being outside and witnessing that was pretty awesome. Thunderstorm > Wishes. Haha! But really, it was cool.

It wasn't so cool when we got inside and realized we were soaked, our shoes were soaked, our bags were soaked and ugh.

And of course, it would be bright and sunny and happy today! Sad part is, this type of weather is normal here. Back home it would be bi-polar.

Going to Panera Bread with husband before work. Yipee! I miss Panera Bread! I live like 3 blocks away from it and I never have time to go (how depressing).

Sick!

Oh my gosh! I have been sick all week and feeling like complete and utter crap. I'm the type of person to call in sick if I'm feeling sick. But now that I'm paying for my apartment and I'm at Disney, you better believe I dragged my coughing sniffling ass to work everyday.... even on my 6AM shift! Which let me tell you, was not fun. Especially since I got off at 10PM the previous night and it takes me an hour to get home. I took some NyQuil in hopes of sleeping peacefully, which I did. For two hours. Then I had to get ready for work. May I just suggest that NyQuil and two hours of sleep is not the best idea? Seriously, you'll regret it.

I treated myself to a Tinkerbell coloring book that day and a set of Kooky pens! I LOVE Kooky pens, they're so cute! I got the wedding set. I took a picture of it, but I'm too lazy to transfer, resize, blah blah blah. Yesterday was my Friday and husband and I had dinner at T-Rex. That place is AWESOME! The food was okay. I liked the sampler platter but my pasta wasn't that great. I'd go back for the ribs though, OMG they're heaven. Husband picked me up from work too, I got him to make a Cheshire long sleeve from make-a-tee. Hehe! He made the font color blue though. He didn't know you could change the colors. Weirdo. I like it! He wrote what he wanted on it. So the top says "Cheshiire" (which is my FFXI characters name), then a pic of Cheshire Cat, then the bottom says "We're all mad here". It's cute!

Went grocery shopping today. Met husband's friend who was staring at me the whole time. *cough*. Don'tgetyourhoodstomppedout. Just sayin. I use to love grocery shopping, now I kinda... don't. It sucks when you buy $50 worth of groceries then run out again in a week. What the hell! We had no juice at all yesterday which doesn't help when two people are sick!! Did the laundry today, had to wash my work clothes. Did the dishes. Husband's getting a little bit irritated cause I'm slacking on my half of the duties. I've been so tired lately :(. He's making me relax right now (even though he's at work) until I have to make dinner before he gets off work. At least my cough is almost gone.

I decided to write a list of things I'm loving per week. If I remember to do this. I think it'll be fun!

• 40% off Cast Member discount
• The fact that my apartment has AC and a heater!
• Figuring out where the leak in our bath tub is coming from (gotcha sucker!)
• Bench seats on the bus
• Earl of Sandwich BBQ chips & vanilla frosted cupcake
• My co-workers. Even though they're way older than me, they're all so awesome
• Thunder & lightning! (I have a love/hate with this, but I do love lightning)
• Warm Spring-is-almost-here afternoons
• Meeting the person who dresses up as Mickey Mouse (srsly, it was awesome)
• Fast shift days
• Back To December by Taylor Swift
• Alaadin: You're my only friend Apu! Girls: Who?
• Watching Disney movies / The Disney Channel in the break room <3
• When the bus doesn't stop at Vista lol
• My job!

 I'm off to relax a bit and maybe get some reading done. I've been slacking in the reading department. I haven't finished not one book in all of January :(

Disney's Hollywood Studios & Shopping!

What the hell, my neighbors are nailing things to their wall? At least, it sounds like it. I thought we couldn't uhm, do that....

Days are so busy and eventful here in Florida!

I had my tier 1-3 training the last few days. Fun stuff. Learning the basics, meeting everyone (coolest managers, EVER), getting to know my store, and playing with a cash counter machine during close. Oh how I miss those! I wonder what Cash Control is like at Disney World, it seems much more organized than Cash Control at Six Flags. So yeah, that was fun. I'm slowing getting the hang of counting change backwards (the Disney way) to customers and I need to work on not being scared to approach kids. I'm not good with kids, I know, but I'm serious. So far customers have been very understanding about the fact that I'm training, which is really sweet.

Yesterday we had a huuuuge thunderstorm in the early morning. Seriously, it sounded like the sky was splitting open. Never heard anything like it. Good thing it didn't rain the rest of the day, husband and I went out to Disney's Hollywood Studios!

We walked around, since I've never been there and OMG, Toy Story Mania? Their wait time was 110 minutes for standby. That is INSANE! Didn't get to see too much, we went to catch the Beauty and the Beast musical. Which was okay, it was the way sped up version.

 

 

I wish I had brought my better camera! I was in such a hurry to get out the door I wasn't thinking!

We tried to find our way to the Swan Resort, but being that it was night time, it was hard to figure out where we were going. So I Googled it and I guess walking from The Boardwalk would had been easier. Welp, so much for that thought! So we went to Downtown Disney so I could go shopping!

We had dinner at Rainforest Cafe because there was no wait! Whooohoo! I got one of those frog cups for kids, my husband thought it was silly but I think it's cute! We had our usual, the sampler which is delicious! And I had clam chowder, which was also good. It was kinda funny cause we got our cast members discount but the added tip was just as much as the discount lol! So much for that!

Went to pin traders to get my pins. They didn't have the Tangled pin set anywhere in DTD! We saw a bunch of them at Hollywood Studios! Argh. So I got the kiddie guys and the villains pin set instead. Right now cast members have 40% off (oh how I wish it would stay forever) so my $70 purchase went down to $40, whoohoo! And I got a secret key pin. For every $30 purchase you get it for $1. I know what my new obsession is going to be lol.

Then we stopped by my store and I got a magnetic notepad, my frame and a pair of earrings. All for a pretty good price! I didn't get my autograph book or my pens, boo. Maybe tomorrow? :D Walked around some more, oh! Went to Tren-D! That place is awesome! Annnnd....! I got a cool comic book-ish Alice in Wonderland hoodie and an Alice in Wonderland tote (which was twice the price at home than it was in Tren-D, crazy right?)! I'm so excited! Went to World of Disney, it was so crowded in there! And went to Basin, didn't find much I wanted there. I was tired by that point too lol. So we went home.

 

 

 Not looking forward to my 6AM shifts, I don't even know how that's going to work since it takes me an hour to get home from work and one of the nights they have me there til 11PM. Ugh, I'm going to be so sad. I already am! Gerrrr. I miss my car.

Alright, now off to make lunch and clean the apartment! My husband keeps telling me that when they do inspections they tear your apartment apart (like the military), I haven't heard of anyone say that but he says that his trainers had that happen to them. Anyone know if this is true?