I'd rather get excited!

I tend to get a little over excited about Disney.  This trip for the Disney Social Media Moms Conference is no different.  Actually, it's probably worse, seeing as how I've never felt the need to color code my attack plan.  Oy vey people, I need help:

My ical layout for the trip.

That is just the tip of the iceberg.  I have my favorite guidebooks (The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World and Passporter's Walt Disney World book) all marked up with dog ears and highlighters.  I have all my dinner reservations (ADR's in Disney-speak) written out and stowed away in it's own little folder - along with my outgoing info for Disney's Magical Express pick up service.  It goes on and on, and it's out of control.

Being that their mother is obviously certifiable, my kids tend to get a little excited about Disney too.  It has been pretty manageable this time around - because they only found out 3 weeks before the trip.

( I should interject here that we always have the best intentions of surprising the kids with the trip.  We have done it successfully with smaller trips, but we can never hold in our excitement for Disney, so we always end up spilling the beans.  This can be hard for a kid if you let them know as far out as we have - over 2 months before our first family trip to WDW.)

The problem, then, was how do you keep your kids from going mad with anticipation?  Our solution is a countdown calendar.

The first year we made it a big deal and did a huge scavenger hunt.  We gave them clue cards and had them go searching around the house for the items that matched the clues; sunscreen, a bathing suit, a camera, a disney coloring book, etc.  They were to piece the clues together to figure out what we were doing.  (They were clueless.)  We even took the hunt on over to Grandma and Granddad's house.  (They were one of the clues because they were coming with us.)  To end the hunt, the girls found a personal note from Tinkerbell in my parents mailbox.  She told them how excited she was that they were coming, and gave them a cute little box with cards and stickers so they could make a countdown calendar.

My eldest getting a little cheesy.  We pulled off that day's card, and kept going til they were all gone.

I don't even remember how we told them about it last time, but we did make the calendar together again. This time, I wanted something to be left on the board to look at as we got closer, so we did it a bit differently.  We punched out circles that were glued onto the board and decorated them with stickers, drawings, and photo's of us on our last Disney trip.  Then we added a number that indicated how many more days til the trip.  On top of those circles, we stapled more circles - punched out of pretty scrap paper, with a matching date - and then attached it all to the board.

I don't have a good pic of the bottom circles, so just imagine their awesomeness.

This time we are going high-tech and have downloaded a countdown clock for the computer.  Mac users can try: The Disney Trip Countdown from Apple.  PC users can try one of the many countdown programs available via a google search - including the Intercot Countdown Timer.

These calendars have really thwarted the "Mommmmmmmy, is it time yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet?" questions.

It does not, however, stop them from saying, "Mommmmmmmmmy, I want to go to Disney NOWWWWWWWW!"

But, then again, it doesn't stop me either.

I'd rather be in swimsuit shape!

Hey guys...

Here is my weight loss update:

Food:  Been doing okay.  Was tracking, eating lots of fruits/veggies, and not drinking coke - but always have a step back on the weekend.  This weekend, however, I tried to be pretty good at my meals out.  Ate smaller portions, made sure to get veggies as my sides, only one bite of desert - if any.

Exercise:  Did a few great exercises this week - lots of yoga, and some Brazilian dance too!  I missed one day that I had planned, but I semi made up for it by sitting on the balance ball all night while playing with my kids.  I figure doing that is better than lying down, right?  And I finally charged up my Gruve and am currently rocking that too.  (As if to drive that point home, it just buzzed me. Ha!)

Nitty Gritty:  I am down 3 pounds!  Back to 193 - and only 4 more to go to get back to my leg warmers! Woot!  Feeling good too.  I'm really committed to getting down as much as I can in the next 3 weeks, when I get to meet all the other Disney Social Media Conference moms!  It really whoops you into gear knowing that there will be 100 other moms (whom you've never met before and who are also twit-pic pros) seeing you POOL-SIDE!  Ack!  So I'm off to work out!

I'd rather everyone make it

Okay ladies.

I know how over a dozen of you are feeling.  I was there.  Not in the top 5 when the last round of Mamavation was announced.

Now what?

May I make a suggestion?  Here is my proposed list for you:

1. Cry.  Like you did when you watched the Notebook.  Cry it out until your face is puffy.  (This is an optional step, of course, but I highly recommend it as it is very cathartic.  Plus you'll get it out of the way.)
2. Mope.  Be pissed.  Go through the stages of Grief.  Including the one where you eat ice cream.
3. Post.  Write about it.  BE REAL.  Tell us you're pissed.  Tell us you're upset.  Tell us.  Everything.
4. Channel all that energy into your future.  Use it to push you through this rough spot, and into a place where you say, "Eff it.  I've had it.  I can kick butt, no matter what." 
5. Turn around.  You'll see me - the other sisters - the cheerleaders - all of us rooting for you.  And we will help get you to where you want to be.

Sound good?  I expect to see you next to me.  (And honestly, ya'll know I need you just as much.)

That is all.  Just wanted to let you know that I will not leave a sister behind.  

I'd rather be going to Disney!!!

I'm so excited!  So stinking excited!

I am going to the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration at Walt Disney World!

Well, I should say *WE* are going, because it's a family affair!  Of course it is, this is Disney!

This is coming at a great time - almost the 10 year anniversary of my honeymoon to my wonderful husband - that was (you guessed it) in Disney!

I am beyond excited, as this is my very first conference.  I am planning to attend Fit Bloggin' in March, but this one just popped onto my radar - and being such big Mickey fans, how could we say no?

So now I need help with two things:

1.  What should I expect?  What should I wear?  What should I bring for the sessions?  What have I gotten myself into!?  (See, I go back a bit with some of my Mamavation ladies who I'll see at Fit Bloggin', but I don't know the other Disney SM Mom bloggers as well.  I'm nervous!)

2.  Mamavation - I need a plan of attack!  How does one go to Disney, and not come back 3 sizes bigger?  Help!


So, can you help?  Give me some pointers!  It will help keep me from floating away in these Mickey shaped clouds!

I'd rather be looking forward

Well, I'm going to go ahead and get this out of the way now.  If you notice, I did not include my weight in my last two posts.  Why?  Because it is so sad to me - I gained 7 pounds in December.  What?  Did I write that correctly?  Yep.  Seven freaking pounds.

I did the math for you - that put me back to 196.  Is that even possible?  Seven pounds?  I was hoping that is was water weight, or just extra fluff that would fall off easily.  Maybe my body's version of hibernation that I could shed just with sheer mental will.  Not the case.

Sigh.

I did not look at the scale too closely before this week, because I knew it would not show me anything good.  Instead of looking down (at my toes, and then making myself feel down,) I decided to look forward.  Hence the "make progress" post.

That is what I've been doing.

For Nutrition:
I have been tracking my weight watchers points.  I fended off two trips to my local diner that I love so much.  My family has discovered the joys of Subway.  I have been trying some new recipes - and even came up with a super simple (and fast) stuffed pepper recipe.

For Fitness:
I have been moving my butt.  I did EA Active, yoga, a balance ball cardio workout, and even a cardio bollywood workout.  That was a sight!  I have blessed my dog with a few walks around the neighborhood in the freezing cold.

For mental health:
I have forgiven my last month.  I am MAKING PROGRESS!  Thank goodness I have so many supportive people around - because I need you all.  It is taking a bit of time to remind myself that I need to be focused on doing things that move me forward, not on hardships or disappointments.  My husband gave me a good pep talk about it yesterday.  I was telling him how upset I was that the scale wasn't moving down quickly this week, and he gave me a big reminder that I was working hard and to be patient!

Right now, I am down about a pound for the week.  I am moving in the right direction.  If I keep doing that, the scale will have no other option than to come with me.




PS - I super duper heart www.mindbloom.com guys.  It has been a great reminder to focus.

I'd rather be crazy at the grocery store

I would like to officially appologize to anyone who had the missfortune of being in the grocery store with my kids and me this week.  If you are unsure who we were, here is a list of some of the things that were said, to refresh your memory:

"The giant squid packer thing is looking at me.  It's mad at me.  That, or it's looking at the bag roll because they are in love."

"The next person to put thier tounge on someone else gets a time out!"

"Moooommmmmmm, she did "ka ka" in my ear!"

Upon the automatic door not opening for me and the younger daughter, the older daughter says, "It's not opening because it is a judging door and you were not cute enough." (Also recall, later when we were finally - blessedly - leaving, the same older daughter actually got the "judging" door to open for her.  I was told "See mom, I'm cute so it opened.  You weren't.")

 And yes, I was that mom who said "Back away from the candy or I'm going to hit you in the head with these rolls."  And, yes, I was the same mom you caught hitting said girl with said rolls.  But remember, we were all laughing hysterically about it, so don't get too uppity.

I will say, that when you fall down on the job in the parenting field while at the grocery store, the night only goes down hill from there.  Thankfully, we left with a full cart - unescorted, even - but this is what was said after we got in the car, and at home.  It got worse:

"Mommmmmm, my pants fell down and I'm sitting on my butt cheeks."

 (Then the other daughter, in response to the above statement, added...) "If you're happy and you know it clap your butt cheeks."

Later, I was asked, "Can I play with the wine opener?" as if it were an acceptable form of entertainment for anyone other than mommy.

I loved this attempted bribe: "If you give me an Ande's chocolate I'll be less hyper."

"Can everybody be quiet, I'm trying to poo here!" was screamed out from the bathroom.

The most rewarding line: "I challenge you to... a DANCE off!"

"I fly super fast - just like a Chiwawa!"

I will say that this was not a normal grocery trip.  I left smiling, and not stressed out.  Oh, and I normally don't allow that much bathroom humor.  But, sometimes, you just gotta be insane - and let others think what they want - in order to get through the day, and to give your kids some happy, fun memories.

Don't be a judge-a-puss.  You know you sometimes act like an idiot too.  Or you at least want to.

I'd rather give three scoops

My husband is the cool parent.  The easy-going, "aww, let em stay up late to watch Mythbusters," fun parent.  He disciplines too, for sure, and we work well as a team.  But, I think if my kids had to label us, I would be the bossy one, and he would be the fun one.

That sucks sometimes.

I don't mind that they know I mean business when I give them "the look."  They know mom knows - that mom sees all.  That mom will put the smack down if she has too.  Those are good things, but I miss the other stuff sometimes.

Compared to a lot of parents, I'm probably pretty darn fun - I think.  I let them jump on the furniture.  They sometimes get to sleep in, on a school day, just because.  Make crazy food concoctions, as if my kitchen were a laboratory, for the fun of it.

Even still, to them, I am McBossy, and he is McFun.

But....but...I have the ice cream.

I give three scoops.  He gives two.

He lets me win that one.  He points out that "Hey, Mom is the one that hooks you up.  I'm sorry, I can only give you two scoops.  Guess Mom beats me on that."  He probably wants to give them four.  But he doesn't.  He lets me have a beautiful, fun mom moment.

I have the ice cream.  I'm the fun Mom that gives three scoops.