It's Not About the Money

The Bug.

I was so excited to have two parties interested in the little green bug, but I didn't realize how hard making a decision between the two was going to be.  Many people would suggest to go with the highest offer price, but I soon found that didn't sit well with me.

Both interested parties were teenage girls. Girl #1, was my first caller.  She is 18 years old and in the process of getting her driver's license.  She's heading off to college in the fall and is currently employed as a Disney Princess.  Girl #2 is also about 18.  She lost her previous car to an unexpected engine fire.  In the fire she lost her purse, iPhone and other personal belongings so dear to a teenage girl.  Her family does foster care.  You know how I love that!

Downtown Disney Lego Store Now Open!

We have a Lego boy in our home who's been obsessed with the Danish interlocking building blocks since he was a wee little lad.  I love watching the wheels spin as he spends countless hours building and creating.  He doesn't seem to tire of it and hearing the Lego employees refer to the "Master Builders" I can sense he'd love to be a "Master Builder."

Living fairly close to a Lego Store, is a highlight in his life.  We frequent it when we head to Downtown Disney so he can purchase mini-figures or look at the latest Lego releases.  He has informed me his one Birthday wish is to be able to go into the Lego store, make his purchase and walk out with a BIG bag!  I think to a Lego boy, that is a sign he has "arrived."

Lights, Camera, Action! Sportsmanship Award Night Out!

"Hello, Rock Star!  Welcome to Disney 365!"

Last night was a big night in our little girlie's life!  Along with the 8 girls from her soccer team, she was treated to hair, make-up and dinner on the town (Disney Downtown) compliments of AYSO and Disney.

Recap:

In November she entered a Cars 2 Sportmanship essay contest sponsored by AYSO and Disney. In one hundred words or less she had to write what sportsmanship meant to her.

Here's her essay:

Sportsmanship

By Ari

In soccer there’s always going to be a winner and a loser but good sportsmanship helps every player have a great time. This year our team used dance to bring other teams together. We did a dance called the “Cupid Shuffle.” After games, we’d ask the other team over and dance together. It was a great time to celebrate and have fun! While dancing we forgot who won or lost and just enjoyed the moment laughing. While walking off the field the girls always left smiling. That’s what having good sportsmanship is all about. 

A Winner in the Family!

A few weeks ago, my girlie's soccer team mom mentioned AYSO Soccer was teaming up with Disney for a team spirit contest.  She asked if anyone on the team would be interested in writing a 100 word or less essay showcasing how our team demonstrated team spirit and sportsmanship.  Our girlie jumped at the opportunity and was so excited to write the essay.

The deadline for submission was November 18th.  The winner would be announced December 2nd.

This morning my girl came bouncing downstairs with her hands covering her face with excitement.  She said, "Mom, today's the BIG day!"

What big day?  December 2nd?  I had forgotten about the contest.

She hadn't.

She remembers everything!

I didn't want to tell her the odds of her winning was probably pretty slim.  I sure hope I'm not a pessimist, but really, what are the odds?

Tonight as I was waiting for her to finish gymnastics, I received this email.

Hello Kimberly! My name is __ from the AYSO National Office. Thanks so much for entering the AYSO/Disney-Pixar Cars 2 Team Sportsmanship Contest. We’re so excited to inform you that your wonderful submission has won you and team _____ (U-10) the Cars 2 Team Party! Congratulations! Please contact me on Monday so we can follow up with you on the details of your prize. Great job and again, congratulations!

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!!   I'm so proud of our girlie!

She's optimistic!  She's full of HOPE!  She's a WINNER!

According to the submission form the winning team will receive:

a Cars 2 themed dinner, plus each player will be presented with a "great sportsmanship" trophy and their own copy of the Cars 2 Blu-ray™ combo pack.

Very exciting news at our house tonight!  Look like a celebration is in order.

Anniversary Date Night- $ Does Not Buy Happiness

I hate to say I'm a "cheap date" because those words just sound wrong, but in actuality, I guess I am!

There was a time in our lives, before kids, where we would fly to San Francisco for our anniversary or plan some elaborate get-away.  Those were the days of two incomes, a lot of time, and not a whole lot on the calendar.  Now just getting away for a couple hours is a rarity, but a HUGE blessing!

I love our home life just the way it is and wouldn't change a thing!  We're so blessed by our kids and the memories we're creating together.

For our anniversary this year we decided to head to Disneyland sans children and just wander around with no plans. Prior to heading out we ordered teriyaki chicken for the kids and ended up nibbling on it along with them.  After eating we headed to California Adventure.  It was a chilly SoCal night!

California Adventure has a TRON 3D experience we had not yet seen.  It's a 3D movie trailer.  After watching it I realized I remembered very little about the TRON movie.  I wonder if I fell asleep while watching?  Give me a bucket of popcorn, a cozy chair in the dark, and two hours and I'll probably fall asleep.  Guess I slept through some of it.

This is the entrance to the Hollywood Backlot and Electronica.

Next we headed over to FLYNN'S.  It's a video arcade filled with video games of the 80's.  Here you'll find 40-somethings reliving the glory days of videoing while "Juke Box Hero" plays in the background.  I did hear a song I hadn't heard since the New Wave days of the 80's.  This is the mostly English version.  It brings back memories and shows the wackiness of the early 80's.

My date exchanged a whopping $5 for video coins and we went to town!  It's amazing how long $5 lasts when only two people are playing!  We tried a number of games, but trying to find my Donkey Kong Junior skills proved to be just too hard. My sweetheart excels at Galaga.  He's so cool!  Centipede is my game.  I hogged most of the coins for my favorite.  My sweetheart just let me play.  He's so good to me!

He takes this very seriously!

I was really bad at this game!

See my score?  I almost got to post my initials!

Flynn's

He's really good at this one!

Tap-tap-tap...I wish you could see the instantaneous firing!  It really was impressive!

After Flynn's we headed out to Downtown Disney where I asked my sweetheart to treat me to a dessert of Bread Pudding (totally not paleo) from Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen.  We cozied up to a little table and shared our dessert together.

Happy Anniversary to us!  This year was one of our best anniversaries yet!  I think we just may be discovering contentment.  It's not about having the fanciest or most elaborate celebrations.  It's about being together, having family, and making memories.

We came home to a house that was immaculately cleaned by three smiling children.  They're so good to us!  I couldn't ask for more!

And we only spent $10.50!!

Caramel Corn

Homemade Caramel Corn

One of the most amazing, aromatic, mouth watering scents I can think of is the smell of fresh caramel corn.  Caramel corn is a fall favorite!  Along with kettle corn, it's also a favorite when we go to Disneyland.  

When we arrive at Disneyland, whether by tram or in the Downtown Disney parking lot the first thing we smell is either the fresh caramel corn or kettle corn.  Both are amazing!  For about $8, the large bag of this delicious treat can be purchased for the whole family to enjoy.  As far as Disney treats go, I feel it's on the more economical side.  For the $8, everyone in the family gets their fill and there is usually leftovers.  Compare that with the $4 ice cream only one to two people get to share.

Even better than buying at fresh caramel corn at Disney, is making it at home.  One benefit of making it at home is we spend a fraction of the cost.  A huge negative to making it at home, is I usually eat WAY too much of it!  Usually I can say, "No," to treats, but Caramel Corn is a weakness.

This recipe can be found in my Grandma's Favorite Recipes book.  It's her collection of her hand written recipes given to me by my parents.  I had to have the book laminated and rebound when I received it.  It has been loved!

This is Cookbook History

Caramel Corn

(This recipe in the book is written by my mom, in my Grandma's book.  I can't remember where the recipe originated from, but we LOVE it)!

Ingredients

6 quarts popped popcorn (We pop ours the old fashioned way on the stove in a pot with oil- no microwave popcorn).

1 cup butter

2 cups brown sugar

1/2 cup light Karo syrup

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon vanilla

Melt  butter in large saucepan on stove.  Stir in brown sugar, syrup and salt.  Bring to boil.  Boil 5 minutes without stirring.

Remove from heat, stir in baking soda and vanilla.  It will bubble up and foam!

Pour brown sugar/caramel mixture over popped corn.  Mix well.  Pour into large shallow baking dish.  I use a large roasting pan.

Bake at 250 degrees for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.  After the hour, remove from oven.  Allow to cool a bit, then break apart.

Enjoy!

Fresh, popped popcorn

Brown sugar and syrup mixture beginning to boil

Caramel poured over popcorn

Fresh out of the oven

Enjoy!

Halloween/Harvest Disneyland

I've loved living in Southern California and experiencing Disneyland through the seasons.  The creative forces at Disneyland do an amazing job transferring an already magical place into a Holiday Wonderland.  Right now the streets are lined with all things Halloween.  Pumpkins grace the lampposts, harvest flowers are in every bed.  Haunted Mansion is a unique Tim Burton experience not to be missed! It is so worth making a trip to the Happiest Place on Earth in early October.  The setting is Spooktacular and the lines are minimal.  Here are some of the sights you'd experience on a fall visit.

The Entrance

Gepetto

Disneyland City Hall

The Pumpkin Mouse

Festive Main Street

The snow is on the castle.  Getting ready for Christmas.

The Matterhorn

Rocket Ride

Entrance to Tomorrowland

Go Go Gadget Coaster

Love the fall color!

Pirate's Lair

Time for Lunch

Ordered Broccoli and Cheddar Soup in Bread Bowl...Feeds 4!

Tigger!

Hello, Rabbit!

Haunted Mansion

This decor makes me want to go home and decorate.

The Barbershop Quartet

S-T-R-E-T-C-H!!!!

I can do it too!

Oh, I must handstand with Mortimer Mouse.

Bye-Bye for Today...