#Disney pins for sale on Ebay #disneypins #forsale #ad

We've started listing pins for sale on ebay.  You will find them under my account here: https://www.ebay.com/sch/mynewf/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=

We will be adding pins on a regular basis, so please keep checking  back!

Newsies @AuroraTheatre July 19 - September 2 #ad @bravepratl

I have been offered media passes in exchange for an honest review.  

Review should be posted on July 22.

Inspired by the real-life Newsboy Strike of 1899, Disney’s NEWSIES is set to kick off Aurora Theatre’s 23rd season with rousing dance numbers and non-stop fun for the whole family! This high-energy musical is set to soar onto the mainstage July 19 –September 2, where audiences will follow charismatic Jack Kelly and his ragged band of teenaged “newsies” as they strike against an unfair system in New York City at the turn of the century.

Aurora Theatre’s production of NEWSIES stars Greg Kamp as Jack Kelly, Adrianna Trachell as Katherine Plumber, Stephan Jones as Joseph Pulitzer, Russell Alexander II as Crutchie, Marcello Audino as Davey and Mahalia Jackson as Medda Larkin, along with a star-studded ensemble. Audiences will recognize the same creative talents behind Aurora Theatre’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Mamma Mia! – direction by Justin Anderson, musical direction by Ann-Carol Pence and choreography by Ricardo Aponte.

Tickets can be purchased through the Aurora Theatre Box office.

Atlanta Comic Con! #fangirl #HarryPotter #MatthewLewis #LordoftheRings #SeanAstin #Disney

So I'm off to the World Congress Center to check out the new Atlanta Comic Con.  Follow me on instagram to see more up to date photos and impressions during the weekend.  I'll post an update next week on all that I've seen.  In the mean time, I'm off to fan girl over some of the guests and check out some of the panels.

Themed shelves #HarryPotter #BeautyandtheBeast #StudioGhibli

Am I the only one that does this?

Harry Potter

Beauty & the Beast

Studio Ghibli

Funny half marathon memory #Disney #WDW #runDisney

I don't know why, but with some of the new commercials on TV I was reminded of this one.  On every 1/2 marathon at Disney I've run, there has been someONE someWHERE on the course playing Neil Diamond's Sweet Caroline.  The funny part is that EVERY runner sings along with it as they go past.  Ok, race memory shared.  I'm looking forward to doing the Dark Side 10K in April.  For now I'll just leave this here..

Quote of the Day #WaltDisney

It's Wednesday

Disney Store at Times Square #WW

When in NY, you have to purchase something unique and meaningful..  Me? I got Mickey in an I love NY shirt.  :)

Headed back to Florida #WDW #10K

I'm headed back to Florida today for the 10K on Friday.  If you want to track me, you can sign up for runner tracking here. 

Happy Birthday to ME! #birthday #celebrate

Fun with hats #ww #Disney

Just because sometimes you have to try them on.  The leather hat was hand done steampunk style with a pocket watch on it.  Too cool (and expensive).

Don't hate me #WW @runDisney #notrunningthistime

It's that time of year again.  Daughter has to stay home this time around as she's in high school and can't skip.  So, this time I'm going down by myself.  I won't be running (we didn't get registered in time), but that's just as well as I haven't trained.

Merry Christmas!

Friday fun film from TestTrack at EPCOT #WDW #familyfun @chevrolet

If you haven't been to Disney in a while, you may not know that they've changed TestTrack somewhat. You now design your own car before riding. It then evaluates your car to see how well it would perform. I worked with my daughter to design a mini car with solar power and a turbo charged engine.  We decided it needed to be sparkly and green.  It was a blast and scored a 198 at the end. Once you leave the ride, you can make a "commercial" for your car and even email it to yourself. Me (being me) did just that. Here's the end result of our work.

@runDisney #WDW10K Minnie's 10K Race recap

I did better at taking pictures this time. Unfortunately, I didn't want to STOP to get pictures, so a lot of them are too blurred to actually see.Oh well. It wasn't   quite as cold this time, the wind was only 5-10 mph. I wasn't hurting when I started and I was able to warm up along the route. Both the 5K & 10K races started and ended in the same place in the EPCOT parking lot. The 10K added at the front by going down the main road and coming back before going into the park, and then swinging around the lake at Boardwalk.

I've heard about the "balloon ladies" at the races, but hadn't seen them until now. My daughter and I didn't train as well as we should have and it showed. We managed to stay ahead of the balloon ladies, though, and finished the race without her dying at the end. So we were good. For those that don't know about these ladies, they are the last ones to start the race and always maintain a 16-min mile pace (the minimum pace you have to maintain during Disney races). So, if you stay ahead of them, you won't be swept from the course. Something those doing the Dopey or the Goofy really have to be careful of. (The only race NOT timed is the 5K.)

We saw the balloon ladies first on the road out in front of EPCOT. We were about a mile ahead of them. We saw them again when we were in front of Beach Club and they were on the opposite side of the lake by the ESPN Zone. We also saw quite a few people suddenly scatter from the picture taking by ESPN Zone (where Mickey was holding court) when the balloon ladies approached.

We did manage to finish strong by running the last .2 mile to the finish line.  You'll have to wait for official photos (assuming I get them) to see my costume (Mary Poppins).

New running costume - Mary Poppins @runDisney #10K

I decided I wanted to dress up for the 10K this week. I already have several running skirts (love my SparkleSkirts), so I wanted to put one together around one of those. My "standard" is Wonder Woman, but I didn't think that worked for Disney. I've done Mary Poppins as a cosplay costume and had a black running skirt, so I went ahead with that as my theme. Below is what I came up with. It's a regular white running shirt that I've added the trim to, my black running skirt and a headband. I thought about one of those mini-hats, but I'm not sure it would stay on my head that long (or be that comfortable), so I went with the headband instead.

So, how'd I do?

#WW A quick view from Downtown Disney

Anime Weekend Atlanta part 1 the #DisneySide of #awa2014 #Disney @awacon

I took 2 teen girls to the convention Friday, 4 on Saturday, and 3 on Sunday. To say I was tired by the time we were done was an understatement. The girls varied in what they wanted to do. Most of the panels they did Saturday, with a couple on Friday. By Sunday they were pretty well done, so the main thing they did was one more pass through the dealer room. While they were off doing their thing, I was usually somewhere nearby (in contact via phone if needed) with a camera. I'm a big people watcher. I'd planned on going to a couple of panels (leatherworking, corsetry making..), but was sidetracked by the views. To say I saw a lot of Disney is an understatement. I'm about Frozen'd out, so I really didn't get a shot of any of the Elsa's or Hanna's walking around (I even saw an Olaf). (Sorry, loved the movie, just overwhelmed by the constant flood.) These, though, were my favorites that I did find.

Left to right, top to bottom: Merida (natural red hair!), Rapunzel and Flynn, Carl, Mad Hatter, and the cast of Nightmare Before Christmas.  There were some other Disney characters I caught that are posted on instagram.  These include Ariel, Vanellope, Jasmine and Tiana, and Boba Fett.

Mary Poppins' umbrella head #DIY #crafting #fun #cosplay

For MomoCon  I had created a Mary Poppins costume to wear.  For the parrot head umbrella, I used floral foam shaped and hot glued to an black umbrella. Unfortunately, floral foam isn't strong enough to stand up to a con, so it didn't last the day.  I want to reprise the costume, but really needed to fix the umbrella.  This is what I came up with.

I started with a block of "regular" styrofoam from Michaels/Hobby Lobby.

I cut it to shape and started to cover it with regular wood putty (from Home Depot).

After I let the wood putty set for about 15 minutes (just long enough to be somewhat firm), I added the "feathers" with a toothpick.  I didn't worry too much about perfection as once the wood putty dried, I'd be able to sand it down and "fix" anything that needed fixing.

I repeated that for each side (except the bottom!), letting the putty set for at least 12 hours before I went to the next side. Then I sanded, repaired, and started to paint.

Once I'd finished painting, I carved out a small area in the styrofoam underneath (which I did not putty) for the head of the umbrella to fit into. I then used epoxy to affix it. Once the epoxy dried, I used a clear coat of acrylic paint to "seal" it all in.

Not a quick project (took about a week given time for the putty and epoxy to set), but not too hard either. The umbrella cost $5 from Dollar General. The putty was approx $8 from Home Depot. The styrofoam I had on hand, but you can get several blocks for about $5 at Hobby Lobby. Paint I had as well and varies depending on where you get it.

Walking Charlotte Amalie (St. Thomas)

When we arrived in St. Thomas, we took a taxi over to the downtown area of Charlotte Amalie. We did more shopping and tried to check out some of the local sights, unfortunately they were either closed or under construction.  We visited the open air market as well. I, at least, had a blast checking out the vendors.  My daughter's favorite was a lady who put everything to song.  Hubs & son waited on the edge of the madness.  My dad helped me and my mom make some wonderful bargains.

From there, we had lunch at a little deli that's only open when there are cruise ships in port.  The owner's husband pointed out a couple of places for us to go see local history which included a Lutheran church. 

This is next to the Lutheran Church.  I just loved the balcony.

The Lutheran church.  There was a service in progress (we were there on Wednesday), so we didn't get to go in.  Still an impressive sight.

Plaque by the church describing it's history.

A historic hotel. We didn't go up the stairs (1000+ from what my map said).

Fort Christian. Currently undergoing reconstruction/repairs.  The "front" of this was just across the street from the deli where we had lunch.

The view from our room from the ship.