The best last day ever! (Part 1)

My last day at Disney was Saturday November 16th and it was one of the best days I think I've ever had! I had a pretty good idea of how I wanted to spend my day, a few rides I wanted to hit and of course some quality friend time!
Our first stop for the day was to the Magic Kingdom with my friend Kayla. The first thing we did was hit up Space Mountain for a Fast Pass. Then we headed back behind the castle and rode the Haunted Mansion. After we got off that we headed over to Jungle I mean the renovated Jingle Cruise to grab a fast pass. After that is was back across the main hub where we stopped for a selfie in front of the castle:

We then continued on our way back through Tomorrowland to Space Mountain! Using our handy dandy fast passes the wait for Space Mountain wasn't to long at all. After we got off Space Mountain we met up with two of our other friends and headed back to the center of the hub for a group picture in front of the castle. After 3 months we hadn't taken one of those pictures yet!

After that Kayla had to head off to work, so Hillary, Jen and I walked around the castle and just hung out for a bit. At 1:20 I had to leave them and meet up with my friend and co-worker Blythe for lunch at Cinderellas Royal Table! It is nearly impossible to get a reservation there.  After taking our picture with Cinderella we were called up stairs to sit at our table. At Cinderellas Royal Table you prepay when you make your reservation, but you get a 3 course meal. The starter is a tray containing cheese, hummus and a salad. I'll admit i wasn't a huge fan of it, but my main course was a roasted chicken with a risotto and shallot confit.

Let me tell you, that was delicious! The risotto wasn't very warm when it came out, but the chicken combined with the shallot confit was absolutely amazing! Just looking at the picture is making me hungry for more! When it came to Dessert, I couldn't help but get the special which is called "The Clock Strikes Twelve" a Chocolate cake topped with a white chocolate mousse, covered in chocolate.
I mean who in their right mind wouldn't order that?

I am not a big chocolate eater, but this was one of the best desserts I've eaten in a long time. The cake was really thin, and the mousse was really light and fluffy. It was amazing!
After taking some pictures with some princesses (Ariel, Aurora, Jasmine and Snow White), Wishing on our Wishing Stars, and some photos of the restaurant we headed to back onto the streets of Fantasyland.
We made a quick stop at Mickey's Philharmagic because that is one of my favorite attractions at Magic Kingdom and the wait was 10 minutes which is code for walk on.

We then head back over to Adventure land because one of the things on my list was to take a trip on the Jingle Cruise!
We had to wait in the stand by line because my previous fast passes has already expired, but we had a lot of fun chatting and enjoying the holiday decor while we waited, and it was all worth it for the corniest holiday jokes!

After that we headed back up to the Main Street USA where I made a stop in a shop to buy myself a Disney Dooney and Burke bag. After that we hopped on the monorail and went back to the contemporary and hopped on a bus to Hollywood Studio's.

This concludes part 1 of the Best Last Day ever, Part 2 will be posted pictures and all Tomorrow.

Faith, Trust and Pixie Dust

I have a sad update my friends, I am no longer living in Orlando Florida creating magic. Due to health problems I had to end my program nearly 7 months early. I was severely heart broken, but it was a decision made for the better. I was given a green light by my managers that I could come back at any time, which is an extremely comforting thought.
I did manage to have the best last two days ever which I will made a huge post about with pictures and stories because it was far too perfect now too share!

While I am sad that I had to leave Disney I have faith that I will return one day.

My Recipe for Homemade Marshmallows!

What you'll Need:

• 1/4 teaspoon of salt
• 1 teaspoon of Vanilla Extract
• 1/4 cup of confectioners sugar
• 1/4 cup of cornstarch
• 1 cup of cold water
• 1 cup of light corn syrup
• 1 1/2 cups of granulated sugar
• 3 packages of unflavored gelatin
• Candy thermometer

What to do:

1. Put 1/2 cup of cold water and unflavored gelatin in a large mixing bowl.
2. In a saucepan combine the remaining 1/2 cup of water with the salt,  corn syrup, and granulated sugar.
3. Turn the saucepan on to a medium heat, cover and cook for 3 to 4 minutes.
4. Clip your candy thermometer to the side of your saucepan and bring the mixture up to 240 degrees fahrenheit, will take between 5 and 10 minutes. Do not leave the mixture unattended!
5. Remove the mixture from the stove as soon as it reaches the proper temperature.
6. Using the whisk attachment turn your mixture on to a low speed.
7.  Slowly pour in the hot mixture from the pan.
8. Whisk the mixture until it is thick and lukewarm it will take about 15 minutes.
9. In the last 2 minutes add your flavoring, Vanilla extract for classic marshmallows but feel free to mix it up!
10. After you've finished add the mixture to your prepared pan.
11. Allow the pan to sit for 3 hours

How to prepare your pan:

Spray your pan with a non-stick cooking spray and add the cornstarch and confectioners sugar. Shake and coat the pan liberally. 

Extra tip:

When you go to cut your marshmallows have a bag of cornstarch and confectioners sugar nearby. Drop your marshmallows in right after you cut it and give it a good shake. 

These marshmallows make a great addition to hot cocoa, or just for roasting and eating plain.

I met a Disney Legend

After spending 2 1/2 hours in line Wednesday morning and being turned away because he ran out of time I finally got to meet Disney Legend Marty Sklar at Downtown Disney Art of Animation shop in the Market Place. I must say it was magical! I'll admit i've only gotten through half of the book so far, but his accomplishments are unparalleled to any other Disney imagineer or Disney Legend! Marty's book "Dream It! Do It!" is about his journey through the Disney company and along side the Disney family. Marty had personal relationships with Walt and Roy Disney through out his life and the stories he has to tell truly put the Disney spirit into perspective!
Before meeting Marty in true fangirl fashion I had a list of questions and things to say, but it all went out the window when I walked up to him and he said Hello and asked me where I was from. I told him that I was from Michigan recalling that he spent quite a time up there in my neck of the woods with Walt working with a handful of businesses GM and Ford being one of them. He proceeded to ask me how it was there and I told him that it could probably be better, but they were working on trying to get everything sorted and fixed. He said at least it isn't cold yet.
I do wish that I had mentioned I was a cast member and I had big dreams in the company, but I was a bit starstruck. Maybe in the future I'll be on the list of Disney Legends right next to Marty Sklar.

My idea of success

I used to think in order to be happy I had to be successful, so i would chase around this shadow of an idea of what I thought success was. I would grieve over an absence from class and shut myself down at the slightest grade under a B because that was not being a success and in my mind it just meant failure. I had been taught by society to believe that success meant having a fortune and a strong job title with a reputation built on the words of my peers, but it was all wrong. In my yearning and searching for this type of success I only ever found anxiety and panic over the fact that I could not live the expected life needed to become that person, to become that success. I spent a long time with this idea that I was a failure, and I won't deny that the constant fear of failing looms over me with every decision I make. I am stronger today because I know that failing is not what I should be afraid of, and not what I should have ever been scared to experience. The experience of failing or making a mistake is the most wonderful thing because with every tiny mistake a lesson is learned and you have the ability to grow as a person! 

I make mistakes everyday, and I am coming to a point where I am no longer ashamed of them I just accept them for what they are which is my learning opportunities. Mistakes should be glorified and praised for their educational capacities not shamed and looked down on. 

I don't know if I will ever have the stereotypical idea of success, but I know that I am successful everyday that I can admit to a flaw and overcome it. I have grown to shine above any mistake or flaw I have and accept them all as my own. Maybe some of them can stand to be changed or adjusted, but some of my flaws are just part of the things that make me who I am and they shouldn't have to be changed. 

The key to being successful is really just being happy with who you are and what you can do, and realizing that if you are not happy with that you can change it all at any time.

Monthiversary!

I moved into my apartment at Disney World one month ago today. Time here is so strange some days feel like years, but other days already feel like distant memories. It is really sad to think that my time here is already 1/5 of the way finished at that before we can even fathom it our programs will be over and it will be time to say good bye.
I am very glad to say that I love it here, I love every aspect of the company and even though I think there are better ways to do things sometimes I know that it is cast members like me who look towards to future who will keep this company on the right track and advancing.
While my ultimate goal is to write music for Disney movies and maybe even the shows they have here in the parks I have come to terms and realized that if I really want to accomplish that goal I must leave Disney in the future to further my education.
I have tons of plans and goals for my university education but nothing it set in stone just yet and I have plenty of time to decide what exactly I will be doing with my life still.
I can honestly say though that I am so excited for the future and for living and just being here and that is the best feeling. I wake up everyday maybe not jumping out of bed, but with a smile on my face because I realize how lucky I am.
I am doing a job that I love, in a place that I could have only ever dreamed of being. I am not sure if fate is being kind to me, or if I've just worked really hard to accomplish this, but I am so grateful for this opportunity and for this experience.

I leave you tonight with my character photo with Peter and Wendy:

Main Street and I

Photo Credit to the Beautiful, Stunning Kayla Justice

Main Street USA is one of my favorite places inside the magic kingdom, it's better to me then any ride in the park or even the castle. You can sit on the curb and watch people walk in under the train station and see that look on their face, that light in their eyes that begins to glow as they realize they've just entered a whole new world! When you see a little girl walk down main street and see the castle and have that look, that moment of realization that it's real! So i love Main Street, because it's where the magic really happens. The magic that puts a light in a childs' eye, or makes an old woman feel like a little girl again! That is what Disney magic is, it's that feeling it creates deep down in your soul that impossible smile that can't be wiped away.