~~~~ Sew, it seams this trip wasn't the adventure we had planned! ~~ January 2018! ~~ COMPLETE 5/6!

[Terkina]

Your glasses looks great on you.
So sorry to hear Allison doesn't like her new glasses.

 

[CaseFace5]

All caught up on replies!!! Just in time for my weekend updates! I hope to knock out a few this weekend... To include our arrival, our first park day and a few Dismeets too! So, be watching for those updates all this weekend!

You are going to get there before me (I am only on day two) but I can't wait to see/read about it!!

 

[Texan]

Of course I found you!!!! I couldn't wait for this. Even though there were some hiccups I know ya'll had a great time.

Hope your Dad is staying well and his home is being proactive with the flu. Glad you got to finally spend some time with him.

I love your new glasses! They look so good with your face shape. Hopefully Allison will start to like hers.

I have been buying more produce at Trader Joe's. Much better quality and less expensive. I continue to wish for an Aldi's, but the store near Tyler is still awful. Horrible produce and not clean.

I hope you get to see your co-workers soon. We had a Target close here in San Antonio as well.

Take care Dorine!! Sending a huge hug. I will be checking in this weekend!!!

 

[missjackiemcg]

That picture of the front of your store makes me sad

Glad you have had lots of time for creating though!! I love the things you've been making lately

Looking forward to the updates!! Have a happy weekend!

 

[Wood Nymph]

Your new glasses look very good on you. That style is very trendy right now. I can tell that you are wearing your EB coat. Mine looks like that except in silver. It has been great this very cold winter.

 

[Iamthequeen]

I'm here too finally. Lots going on here, mainly recuperating from surgery. I went back to work 3 weeks ago, but every time we get bad weather, I'm apprehensive about driving, since I have limited use of my right arm still. Can't wait for winter to be over.

Glad everyone is finally well.

 

[OhMari]

Hi,
Moderator here-no worries, just picked a good TR to follow.
My son-in-law is from Andover, so my grandson (16 months) is 1/2 Viking Fan, the other half Packer fan.
Yep I live in Wisconsin and I hate th cold. Isn't it snowing by you today?
Sorry about your job. My son-in-law, brother, Caleb, got laid off 2 years ago from Corporate Target, he was in accounting in Minneapolis. I do not get it, everyone shops at Target, how did it close by you.

Looking forward to your TR.

 

[gopherdame]

Your glasses look great. I'm sure Allison will get used to hers. I used to wear glasses that were a very mild prescription. I just kept the same pair as we didn't have insurance. Then as I got older and needed readers I felt like my vision was better and don't even use them for driving.

I spent the last couple days in the hospital with my husband. He didn't feel well after shoveling, with a little chest pain and high blood pressure. So the doctor sent us right to the ER and within 4 hours they were putting a stent in a blocked artery. They said he didn't have a heart attack so that was good and his other arteries are fine. His heart rate was really low after the procedure so they called the rapid response team to come and monitor him. They're pretty sure it was the beta blockers they use for the procedure but it was kind of scary for a while. He came home yesterday and we've just been taking it easy. Even though we've both been exercising we weren't doing too well on the food, so I guess this is a wake up call to watch what we eat and hopefully lose some more weight.

Can't wait to read all about the trip.

 

[Sweetly]

Late, but I'm here!!! I promised myself that no matter how busy I get I have to catch up once a week. I can't wait to here about this trip.

Sorry that your plans did not go as planned and about target. Love the new glasses. I am super excited about your Europe trip as well.

We have a busy year ahead of us. We are gong to Disney for a few days (our countdown is under a 100 days) and we will heading to Europe as well (no Disney stops)

Glad everyone is well!!!

 

[mblc14]

Yay!!! Another D~ trip report!!! Although I was following along on Fb, can't wait to hear how the rest of was.

Ugh. Target...We just had our 2 year anniversary of it closing here in our Southern Iowa town. Same kinda deal, it wasn't losing money. Just not making enough for them anymore. I remember hearing that the credit card deal and their failed attempt at spreading into Canada was causing them to reevaluate all their stores. Idk. Still very sad here, store is still emoty and for sale. And, yep, signage was all taken down within the day. I used to work there in college and enjoyed it. If I hadn't been so into going into education, I would of probably sought more opportunities through them professionally. (Guess that was probably a wise choice now..)

Won't post often D~, but I'm tagging along for the ride like for all your other TRs and PTRs

 

[DMGeurts]

Ugh!!! I overslept!!! You guys all know how often that happens... And yes, 6am is oversleeping to me. So, gonna crank out replies, then hopefully crank out an update or two. I have 2 hours to get both done.

Your glasses looks great on you.
So sorry to hear Allison doesn't like her new glasses.

Thanks Lillian!

Well - it's not that she doesn't like them... It's more that they are so different for her. She has worn them a couple of times now, and hopefully she will start to wear them more - especially if I am wearing mine all the time.

You are going to get there before me (I am only on day two) but I can't wait to see/read about it!!

Hahaha... But I met you on Day 1. LOL

Of course I found you!!!! I couldn't wait for this. Even though there were some hiccups I know ya'll had a great time.

Hope your Dad is staying well and his home is being proactive with the flu. Glad you got to finally spend some time with him.

I love your new glasses! They look so good with your face shape. Hopefully Allison will start to like hers.

I have been buying more produce at Trader Joe's. Much better quality and less expensive. I continue to wish for an Aldi's, but the store near Tyler is still awful. Horrible produce and not clean.

I hope you get to see your co-workers soon. We had a Target close here in San Antonio as well.

Take care Dorine!! Sending a huge hug. I will be checking in this weekend!!!

Yes - over all, we had a lot of fun.

Dad is doing very well... His spirits have been very good lately - which makes life so much easier. Looking forward to spring and getting him out more.

Thanks! I am having fun wearing them... Definitely a little out of my style range, but fun to have something different too.

I am headed to TJ's today... I have to get coconut oil spray - I usually buy several bottles while I am there, because our TJ's is about an hour drive for me. I hope you get a better Aldi soon - you know I love mine so much!

Well, we have our "closing party" tonight - so I imagine I"ll see many of them there. I hope anyways.

Same to you Carol!! Big hugs!

That picture of the front of your store makes me sad

Glad you have had lots of time for creating though!! I love the things you've been making lately

Looking forward to the updates!! Have a happy weekend!

Right... Though yesterday, one of my coworkers (who is helping to empty the store) posted a video on FB... They were having scooter races in the Front Main. It was awesome to see them all having fun... and it was VERY interesting to see ALMOST ALL of the store still intact after a week of "emptying"... They must be starting at the back and moving forward, because the front looks almost identical to what it was last week.

Yah - I think I have a "creative sickness" right now... I can't stop. LOL Part of the problem is that I leave for Suzi's soon - so I am trying to get a few things made for that trip... And then Valentine's Day is on Wednesday...

Same - LOL I hope you have a fantastic weekend too!

Your new glasses look very good on you. That style is very trendy right now. I can tell that you are wearing your EB coat. Mine looks like that except in silver. It has been great this very cold winter.

Thanks! That's what the girls told me too... I hope they are right. LOL

I love my EB coat... Both of them! I wear them both all of the time, I am so glad I kept them! Warmest coats I've ever had!

I'm here too finally. Lots going on here, mainly recuperating from surgery. I went back to work 3 weeks ago, but every time we get bad weather, I'm apprehensive about driving, since I have limited use of my right arm still. Can't wait for winter to be over.

Glad everyone is finally well.

Awwwh - Tess, it's great to see you here! I am glad to hear that you are recuperating... I don't blame you for the driving - especially in bad weather, that must be so scary! Heal fast my friend, and take it easy - as I am sure you are.

Thanks - me too! I felt like we were sick forever!

Super happy to see you here and have you following along!

Hi,
Moderator here-no worries, just picked a good TR to follow.
My son-in-law is from Andover, so my grandson (16 months) is 1/2 Viking Fan, the other half Packer fan.
Yep I live in Wisconsin and I hate th cold. Isn't it snowing by you today?
Sorry about your job. My son-in-law, brother, Caleb, got laid off 2 years ago from Corporate Target, he was in accounting in Minneapolis. I do not get it, everyone shops at Target, how did it close by you.

Looking forward to your TR.

Hi!!!! Super excited to have you here and following along... I don't think I have ever had a Mod follow one of my TRs before!

I know where Andover is, though I don't get through there often... Hahaha - yah there are a lot of divided fans around here. I hate to tell you that we are a hockey and baseball family... We sort-of avoid football at all costs. LOL Though, my Mom's family would probably disown me if they knew that - die hard Vikings fans all the way.

We didn't get much snow - just a dusting, it missed us... Though we did get hit HARD the day before the girls and I flew back from Florida.

I remember that lay off... So sad. I hope he was able to find something better.

I have no idea how they managed to close a store so close to corporate? We were one of their "test stores"... We did a LOT of training of the new Team Leads and a lot of testing for sales plans, techniques and such... I know that all of us felt very "safe". I think that is why many of us are taking it so hard - it was truly a blow. I do know that we had one of the smallest store footprints... So I truly fear for all of the Target stores our size... We were too small to add in a bigger grocery or anything that would make us more profitable and more competitive... And yet we were too big to be considered one of their new "mini stores"... It's just a bummer. Many of us feel as if we were set up for failure due to this.

Thank you! I am looking forward to sharing it!

Your glasses look great. I'm sure Allison will get used to hers. I used to wear glasses that were a very mild prescription. I just kept the same pair as we didn't have insurance. Then as I got older and needed readers I felt like my vision was better and don't even use them for driving.

I spent the last couple days in the hospital with my husband. He didn't feel well after shoveling, with a little chest pain and high blood pressure. So the doctor sent us right to the ER and within 4 hours they were putting a stent in a blocked artery. They said he didn't have a heart attack so that was good and his other arteries are fine. His heart rate was really low after the procedure so they called the rapid response team to come and monitor him. They're pretty sure it was the beta blockers they use for the procedure but it was kind of scary for a while. He came home yesterday and we've just been taking it easy. Even though we've both been exercising we weren't doing too well on the food, so I guess this is a wake up call to watch what we eat and hopefully lose some more weight.

Can't wait to read all about the trip.

Thanks! Allison is getting used to her's - little by little... That's awesome that you were able to stop wearing yours... I think I am too far gone for that now?

Oh no!!! This is terrible news! And scary!!! I cannot imagine what you all have been going through! Please keep me updated. I am relieved to hear that he is home and recuperating.

I am looking forward to sharing it!

Late, but I'm here!!! I promised myself that no matter how busy I get I have to catch up once a week. I can't wait to here about this trip.

Sorry that your plans did not go as planned and about target. Love the new glasses. I am super excited about your Europe trip as well.

We have a busy year ahead of us. We are gong to Disney for a few days (our countdown is under a 100 days) and we will heading to Europe as well (no Disney stops)

Glad everyone is well!!!

Nah - you are never late here! Happy to have you here and following along Lynee!

Yes - definitely not the plan with Target... but I am sure - in the end - it's what's best for me... It's time.

Thanks! I love my new glasses - it's fun to be a little trendy.

Yes - we are super excited about Europe! We are ready to pull the trigger on airfare now - as we think we have enough saved up.

Exciting!!!! For both trips! Where will be you be in Europe?

Thanks! We are all happy to be feeling better!

Yay!!! Another D~ trip report!!! Although I was following along on Fb, can't wait to hear how the rest of was.

Ugh. Target...We just had our 2 year anniversary of it closing here in our Southern Iowa town. Same kinda deal, it wasn't losing money. Just not making enough for them anymore. I remember hearing that the credit card deal and their failed attempt at spreading into Canada was causing them to reevaluate all their stores. Idk. Still very sad here, store is still emoty and for sale. And, yep, signage was all taken down within the day. I used to work there in college and enjoyed it. If I hadn't been so into going into education, I would of probably sought more opportunities through them professionally. (Guess that was probably a wise choice now..)

Won't post often D~, but I'm tagging along for the ride like for all your other TRs and PTRs

MIKE!!!! My friend! It's great to see you here as always! I hope you and the family are doing well?

I am sad to hear that your Target still looks as terrible... I feel that Target just wants too much for their properties/nothing fits within the parameters of their buildings... So, they are just destined to sit there and rot forever. I hope that our city is proactive at filling the building (it's Target owned, not city owned - but in the best interest of the City to help market it) but even just looking at it - there is nothing that could go there. It's very sad... and for us - it's located in such a prominent and prime city location - it will be a true eye sore.

Glad - for you - that you went into education... I think it's a better fit anyways. Who wants to work retail forever? LOL

Super happy to have you here and following along!

**************************************************************************************************************

OK all - super, super, super quick life update... Which will be mostly all pictures and very little commentary, as I need to get some promised updates done.

OK - first off... Working on fun stuff to wear when I meet up with Suzi... Tropical capri leggings... And a self-hacked color blocked tank top.

Suzi, her mom and I are also going to go see Momma Mia while we are there - super excited for this... So, I need to dress up a little bit... I've decided to wear the Lilly Pulitzer dress I wore to Josh's brother's wedding a few summers ago. I've only worn it that one time - and it really should get more use than that, right?

And finally - yesterday - I had a bit of extra time... So, I made this adorable Made for Mermaids Stella pattern - there are so many variations to this top included with the pattern... Off the shoulder, V back (or front, or both), key hole back, full back. Anyways - I made this one out of stretch velvet (Um, super hard to work with) for something fun to wear out for Valentine's day... I still need to make the bralette that has to go under it. I am seriously in love with everything about this shirt!

OK all!!! Have a great weekend! I'll be updating as I can! Prayers and pixie dust to all!

D~

 

[Terkina]

All your new clothes looks great.

 

[buzzrelly]

And it was my last week working at Target - after 11.5 years... Forgive all of the pictures - but I did document the sad closing of our store... And a few comparison photos as well... My apologies - I won't write anymore about this after today... I promise.

This was our Seasonal area - the first area to be blocked off... The first photo was taken back in November - right after the announcement of the closing of our store... The second photo was the same area last week... All of the boxes waiting to be loaded up during the "Sweep" - which is what happens to all of our product that didn't sell - it will be "swept" to another store... This is taking place this week and next week.

Oh, no! I'd be devastated if they closed our Target Of course, I don't work there but I shop there at least twice per week!

I love all the clothes you make, but it makes me wonder why you would even need to work at Target. You are so talented and could easily sell your creations in an on-line store. Use your gift

 

[DMGeurts]

Arrival day - Part II

After a very uneventful flight... No turbulance, no screaming kids (the only thing I enjoyed about flying at this time)...

We landed at MCO at 10:38pm Florida time.

The girls and I exited the plane very quickly - as we were sitting very close to the front and hardly no other passengers.

We stopped for a bio-break...

Then headed down to baggage claim to locate our Town Car Driver... He was right there waiting for us. Side note though - in the future, when arriving this late at night and traveling alone with the girls - I think I will request a female driver. I think I would just feel better about it... Nothing happened at all to give me any heebie-jeebies... but I did feel a bit vulnerable, though I didn't say anything to the girls.

All of our bags arrived intact... Including V's luggage loaded with juice.

And we walked right out the doors to to the underground parking and our awaiting Lincoln...

Once we loaded up all of our baggage and we were on our way... All 3 of us realized we were STARVING! I remember in my PTR - someone (can't remember who) told me that she once flew this late and the really sucky part of it was that they arrived starving and NOTHING was open. So, here we were... Starving... And nothing was open.

We did do a grocery stop... Again, no stores were open. The Town Car company warned me that morning (via text) that there was only one store open at that time of night (Goodings), and it was very expensive... I was OK with it - as we were only getting 3 things - and how expensive could it really be? Well, it was expensive... And we were starving - remember? We got everything on our list - Half n' half for me in my morning coffee, sparkling water and 2 Gatorades... Then we grabbed 2 (of the grossest) sandwiches out of the "deli" and a 4 pack of banana nut muffins... These 3 items were the most "to-go" things they had, and they looked relatively safe. So $30 later!!!!! We were on our way to the resort.

We arrived at Shades of Green at exactly Mid-night. I had called them earlier in the day to let them know that we would be arriving late, I also asked for our room assignment, but they couldn't tell me then which room we were in... I was a little nervous, getting there so late in the day, we'd be left with a room that wasn't anywhere near what I'd requested.

We were checked in very quickly and given room #208.... PERFECT! Or not... I'll get to that in a minute. Room #208 was in the exact location I'd requested... For Allison's trip, we were in room #206. For V's trip, we were in room #207 - so #208 was perfect.

Dun, dun, dun... Until we got there...

Room #208 is at the end of the hallway... Across from the elevator... Which became a HUGE issue later in the week when V was trying to rest. It was super loud all the time.

Our view was sorta-sucky... As we had a giant tree outside our balcony... Had it been any other time of year, there would have been leaves on it and we wouldn't have been able to see anything... You can kinda see the pool through the branches... And you can kinda see the fireworks at MK if you crane your head to the right...

But probably the worst part was that the GIANT windows at the end of the hallway looked directly into our room... So anyone standing there, from 2 of the floors, looking out, could look right into our room... Needless to say, we kept our drapes closed the entire week... At first for privacy... Then eventually because V was trying to sleep...

I didn't take any other room pictures upon arrival... We were exhausted. The only thing I did, which the girls gave me crap for... I wiped our entire room (door handles, remote, fixtures, phone, etc...) down with Clorox wipes... I am NOT normally a "germ-a-phob" - as V would call me many times over the course of the next few days... but I'd heard too many recent stories of people being sick in WDW - we were NOT going to be one of them!

We ate some of our food from Goodings... To be honest - those "deli" sandwiches were probably the worst I have ever seen... The cheese was so gooey and fake - they were "gas station" sandwiches at best... Nasty. I told Allison she could eat my portion, I didn't even take a bite - I don't even think she ate any? We did eat the muffins though - we were just so starving!

We didn't even prepare for our first park day the next morning - we all just fell into bed. It was a LONG day, and I don't think I will ever fly at that time again - it wasn't worth the cheap airfare.

Link to Day 1 - Part 1

D~​

 

[DMGeurts]

Day 1 - Part 1 - MK

Tuesday, January 16, 2018

I was up at my semi-usual time of 5am (or 4am, if I am still on MN time - which I am)...

I woke the girls by making coffee... I was trying to be quiet, but I didn't have anything set up from the night before - so I was making a lot of noise trying to get the coffee pot and all of my stuff figured out. I always travel with a mini flash light - which is super helpful in situations like this - IF you unpack it.

So, we were all up...

We shuffled showers and getting ready... with this small bathroom set up - and 3 of us getting ready at the same time - we had to be creative... We moved all of our hair stuff out to the mirror by the TV - and did that portion of getting ready there. It worked out OK - not the best lighting, but at least we weren't all in eachother's space - which is half of my my girls get annoyed with each other - they need personal space.

We were out the door at 7:50am for the 9am MK opening... Stopping for Starbucks on our way out of SoG.

We took the Shady Shuttle to the end of SoG property, then the monorail to the MK. When boarding the monorail at the Poly - we discovered that all security checks and bag checks are done prior to boarding the monorail... I wasn't aware of this. At first I was a bit annoyed, but once we got to MK and I realized that we didn't have to do another bag check/security check there - I kind of liked this new way of doing things. Of course - it wasn't so easy at Epcot later in the trip...

We were at MK by 8:15, which was quite miraculous! It was a bit chilly this morning - as we all needed jackets.

Even though the park wasn't open yet - the girls and I took advantage of a "nearly empty" Main Street and all of the Photopass Photographers... In hindsight - I am so glad we did this on Day 1... As we didn't get a chance again this trip.

(I know these aren't in the right order... TBH - not even gonna try. LOL)

After we took all of our pictures... We waited by the rope for Adventureland... We were the first people there, so we were right at the front of the pack

We were entertained by CMs Dylan and Lowell - they had us laughing so hard, we were almost in tears! They were so funny!

The whole time, standing there, I was texting my friend Tina (Disname??? - Terrible with these) to meet up - she was somewhere in the crowd behind us...

When the CMs dropped the rope, the girls and I immediately headed back to POTC and we ended up on the first boat... Not bad for our first ride of the trip. We didn't know that they now take ride photos on this ride... As you can probably tell. LOL

During the ride - I had no cell reception, and I didn't realize that Tina and family were waiting outside the ride for us... Oops!

We found her and her family immediately! Our first Dismeet of the trip! They were so fun and so nice... Her dd is so cute! Just a sweet family! We chatted for quite a while and took a few pictures... I love meeting my Dis friends!

After we met with Tina and family - we parted ways... The girls decided, rather than using optimal park touring time to ~ uh ~ tour the park... We would use this time to eat. LOL I had to admit - we hadn't eaten since our early dinner before our flight the night before (the gas station sandwiches and muffins didn't truly count) - we were all a little beyond starving...

So, we headed to our favorite... Sleepy Hallow... I was trying to hold off eating - as I knew we had a big and early lunch planned at The Plaza in a couple of hours - so I had just a little bit of each of the girls'. V had the Nutella one, and A had the ham (?) and egg version.

You really can't beat a view like this for your first park meal...

And we were off again, to our first FP of the day... Sadly - it wasn't for our favorite...

Link to Day 1 - Part II

D~

 

[Terkina]

So sorry to hear that the location of your room wasn't good and that everything was closed so you couldn't get a proper meal.
I agree with you about getting that late to Disney isn't worth the cheap airfare.

Looks like your first park day started out good.

 

[gopherdame]

It looks like it wasn't too cool if you had light jackets. We wanted to go to Peter Pan first thing one morning and do the queue since we'd always used fast passes. It was closed though so we went to eat too, waffle and funnel cake. Of course by the time we got back we waited an hour. But I really wanted to see it so we did it anyway. I think I might have mentioned we did one late flight and we swore never again. Of course the airplane had problems and we had to wait for another one. So that delayed us about 2 hours and we still had to pick up our rental car. After midnight before we got to bed and we were all so exhausted.

We did so many trips in Jan. where Splash was closed. We finally got to do it and it's a ride my husband likes to ride now. He doesn't go on many rides any more and now he has a good excuse. He's doing really well and I'm going out shopping for a little healthier food today. He's not too happy that I'm cutting out chips, but that was something I've wanted to get rid of for a long time. What is it with men wanting them all the time. I am glad now that we didn't go to Florida this year. How much worse to have this happen there.

It will be fun to follow along on your trip.

 

[JoeyEmmaMomma]

Yay for an update!

 

[andera42]

Oh splash mountain, it was closed when I was there in October, I was disappointed, but I guess that means I have to go back another time to ride it . How great that you made it to MK so early . It appears to be low crowds first thing in the morning? I love it when we actually get there early, doesn't always happen .

 

[disny_luvr]

Getting in so late doesn’t sound like fun. The 7:30 flight I’m eyeing is sounding better and better.

It looks like a good first morning. Kudos to you guys for getting up and to the park for rope drop after your late flight. I would’ve never gotten my boys awake - Disney or not.

We were sad to miss SM on our October trip. I’m looking forward to riding it when we go in June.

I’ve never eaten at Sleepy Hollow but I always think the sandwiches look good, especially the nutella with fruit. I might have to try one this summer.