Brr!!

I just looked at TWC, and it says the temperature is only 35° right now! Holy cow!

I would love to be here right now:

It's the Hippy Dippy pool at Disney's Pop Century Resort! Actually, this picture is of the kidde area. But I think it's a neat shot with all the palm trees. Here's a really great shot of the main flower pool from Deb's site.

Since I can't be there right now, I'll settle for being at home relaxing! lol Today has been just as wonderful as yesterday so far! I'm glad I went ahead and got all my orders finished and shipped out last week! It has given me time to do whatever I want this weekend! lol

Jimmy cooked breakfast for us this morning - cheesy scrambled eggs, hashbrowns, and toast. Yum! He's really good at fixing scrambles eggs. His and my Mom's are the only ones I can/will eat!

After breakfast, I worked on a search-a-word puzzle thingie. lol I just love those! Then I finished up some experiments with some new scented items. They actually are going very well! (And my studio smells like a candy shop!)

I also have some ideas for some new themed, scented charms for Valentine's Day. I can't wait to have those finished, in some scrumptious new Valentine's Day scents! Hehe...

And now I must go! I have a bunch of other ideas that I simply must go work on right this minute! lol You know how that is... ;)

More later!

My day, and a book review!

So... Today was quite the productive day! Jimmy and I went to a friend's graduation this morning, and then I came home and worked on some of my new things until lunch. And they are coming along quite nicely! ;) I'm 'sew' proud of them! Hehe...

Mom came over around 2:30 to drop off some goodies, and see what I had been working on. I send her pics, but she likes to see them in person. :) We had a nice visit and she showed me some tricks with my sewing machine!

Then I spent some time on my DisBrides boards, watched a movie while I worked on some scented Mickey charms, made a cherry dump cake (YUM!) and wrote a book review!

Whew! What a wonderful, busy day!

Oh! And last night Jimmy and I went and saw 'I Am Legend'! What a great movie! I really enjoyed it! Will Smith is such a great actor! I would love to meet him; he seems like he would be really nice!

And now... On to my book review!!

The Complete Walt Disney World
By Julie and Mike Neal

Okay, I admit it… I bought this guidebook solely for the pictures. I really did. I’m Disney-crazy like that. But then, as I carried the book around with me, I started actually reading all the cool little stories and snippets, tips and secrets… I’m going to be buying the 2008 version for the awesome info… And the super-wonderful pictures, of course!

While most guidebooks just tell you the basics, like… Height requirements, prices, locations of FASTPASS attractions, etc… The Complete Walt Disney World makes you think you are actually there! Each attraction has a wonderful description, along with Fun Finds and Fun Facts! I’ve learned about sooo many cool things at WDW after reading this book! There’s also little tips scattered throughout the book. And, yes, it does have all the ‘basic’ info, too!

And the pictures… Oh the pictures! So, so many wonderful pictures! As you’re reading about the different attractions, you can glance [or in my case just stare] at the pictures, and start imagining you are there! I love the rainy day picture, the Blizzard Beach Snow Ball picture, the Stormalong Bay picture… And I could keep going on… There’s not a bad picture in the entire book, in my opinion. I like that they’re not the normal, everyday shots that everyone has seen a million times, too.

A few of my other favorite things in this book… The 10-page animal guide in the Animal Kingdom section, the two pages devoted to resort pools, the shopping pages, the ginormous Hidden Mickey’s list (along with some PICTURES!!) and 11 pages on special events. And there’s so much more in this book; but I can’t tell you everything! lol

The only thing I was disappointed in was the lack of info for the resorts. But, it seems that the 2008 version has remedied that! They now have 2 pages dedicated to each resort, along with some resort pictures! Yeah!!

They’ve also got a new restaurants section that has reviews and information on even the most recent restaurants and changes, like Yak and Yeti and Tusker House.

I’ve also read that it has info about the updated Haunted Mansion, Spaceship Earth, and even the new Toy Story Mania! How cool is that?? That's some very up-to-date information on my favorite place in the world!

Honestly, this is the WDW guidebook that I carry around with me all the time so that I can actually show people Disney World. And they’re always excited to see it! These pictures have gotten all the kids at work excited, and my boss is all the time asking "What is this ride like?" and "Which ride is that?" I just whip out this guidebook, and I can show her while I explain it to her!

This book is also printed on that lovely, glossy, sort of thick, magazine-like paper. A real plus with all those super pictures! The book is also a great size, and has a nice feel as you're flipping through the pages.

I believe this book is a wonderful supplement to the Disney World Passporter! (Along with a couple other Disney World guidebooks that I’ll review soon!) It's fun to look through all the great pictures, and read all the great little secrets and histories in the Complete WDW as you are planning in the Passporter.

Fun stuff!

Not much to report today. :)

I would like to get in the habit of posting here at least once a day. Even if nothing is going on. Like today! I do have some new things I'm working on for my shop, but I can't tell too much about those until they're finished. ;)

Bi-Zu was helping me get some pictures this morning:

Oh... Wait... No, actually... This is when she was trying to eat my ribbon! Oops! lol Silly kitty!

I was trying to get some pictures of these pretty purple fabric squares:

I've developed a huge obsession with fabric over the last couple of weeks. I think it's because of what I mentioned earlier - I'm moving away from polymer clay. I still love polymer clay! I've just found a different way for me to make cool jewelry! ;) And other accessories! Which will be up in my shop in a couple of weeks. Hehe... I like the thought of trying new mediums. :)

Oh, and I finally got my Pampered Chef hostess pack in the mail! Woohoo! I can't wait! I'm going to have a PC party in January, and I'm so excited!!! I have to wait a couple of weeks before we finalize the menu, but I'm ready to do that now! lol

And now I must go... The sewing machine is calling my name! lol (Weird how it does that...)

One final picture before I go:

A section of the lobby at Disney's Wilderness Lodge. I would love to be here right now! It has finally started to get cold here in TN, and I'm dreaming of comfy warmness. lol I can just imagine myself wandering around the lobby at the Lodge. With a cup of warm cinnamon cocoa in my hands... I would settle down into one of the big rocking chairs in front of the 80 foot tall fireplace... And just relaaaax... Ah... Care to join me?

Walt Disney World Passporter Review

So... Anyone who knows me is aware of the fact that I am in love with Disney World. I love everything about it. The parks, the resorts, the magic! Oh yea... There's real magic there alright. You know that adults can actually pretend while they are there??? Really! I wore a princess crown to dinner on our first night back in January. And everyone was bowing down to me, calling me 'your highness'... And I ate it up! lol It was absolutely magical! That could never happen here at home! And the whole trip... I did so many cool things while I was there! I talked to sea turtles (and they talked back!) went on an African safari, drove a race car, flew in a hang-glider over California, battled pirates, went shopping around the world, and I even took a spaceship to Mars!

I've been to Disney World 13 times now. And I can't wait to go back! There is so much to see and do... 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, over 20 resorts to explore, Downtown Disney, golf, mini golf, Disney's Wide World of Sports, and the list goes on.

How do I plan it all? The Disney World Passporter! This is more than just another guide book. This is the guidebook! And while I do use it in conjunction with a few other guidebooks, this is the one I recommend to everyone. And here's why:

This is the cover for this year. I LOVE this new cover. It really pops out at you more... Like, instead of "I'm going to Disney World", this cover says, "YEA!!! I'M ON MY WAY TO DISNEY WORLD, BABY!" It's like that. I like the castle picture, too. With all the lights on inside... I can just imagine Cinderella running around getting ready for a grand ball. :)

This is an open page from the Pop Century section. We just love our Pop Century! Although this time we're splitting our stay between Pop Century and the Polynesian, Pop will always have a special place in our hearts. Note the awesome rating charts, and transportation time chart. These are VERY helpful in the 'deciding where to stay' process. There's also a map for each resort, too. Along with tips on the best/quietest/most convenient rooms, etc. So that after you have completed the 'deciding where to stay' process, you can then tackle the 'where to stay at where I'm staying' process a bit easier as well. ;) (Come on, you guys know what I'm talking about!)

The best guide book maps I have ever seen for WDW. Really. They fold out, so they're at least twice as big as other guidebook maps. And they have these handy little guides that tell you about how much time it will take to get from place to place in the parks. Nice! Plus, they're in color, which is also very nice!

Fun stickers! To... You know... Stick in different places! Seriously, these are great for marking special places, noting special celebrations, and not to mention making you look more organized!

Okay... Get ready for this...

Passpockets! The most unique guide book planning tool ever! EVER!

Yes, they really are pockets for storing maps, receipts, tickets, and any other memorabilia you collect on your adventures! Oh! And let's not forget that on each Passpocket is a place for you to write all the information you could possibly need about your trip.

There are 14 of these little puppies in the Passporter. The first one is titled, 'Our Journey'. You can write your departure and arrival times, flight numbers, reservations numbers, rental car info, to do lists... And more! Yeah, 'cause that's just the FRONT of the journey Passpocket! On the pack are places for you to write about your memories, pictures, meals, budget and notes for your journey! Wait! It doesn't stop there! After the journey Passpocket is one titled 'Our Rooms', where you can write everything you'll need (and want!) to remember about your resort! Resort name, reservation number, special requests, phone number, the room number and location that you actually get at check-in... Whew! The back of the rooms Passpocket is similar to the journey Passpocket; filling out memories, pictures, meals, etc. The rooms Passpocket is followed by the 'Our First Day' Passpocket. There are ten of these, going all the way up to 'Our Tenth Day'. On the front of each of these, you can fill in your schedule for each day, including dining plans and reservation numbers, things to do, and notes. The back is reserved for you to write your memories, weather for the day, photos, budget, meals, and more notes. Trust me, you can never have enough notes for/about your trip!

After those AWESOME little Passpockets, is a blank Passpocket! "Blank?", you're asking. Yep. This Passpocket is reserved for you to journal about whatever you want! A special meal, a memorable show, the time your friend almost drowned in Shark Reef, special events like Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, or maybe even just use as an extra day. It's up to you!

And last, but certainly not least, is the Magical Memories Passpocket. On the front you can fill in all your most magical experiences, from meals to attractions, your most magical day, and other special memories. The back is for you to make a little mini trip report. When you went, who went with you, what you would do again, what you wouldn't do again, etc. Alllllll THIS... And I haven't even mentioned half the stuff in this wonderful guidebook. There are worksheets for everything - resorts, dining, budget planning, etc. - to fill out and help you with your trip planning. Tips and magical memories scattered throughout; and these are so much fun to read! There's info on all the attractions, restaurants, shows, resorts, dinner shows... And the list goes on. There are two pages explaining the new dining plan options, a two page packing list, information on special tours and activities, and even suggested touring plans for each park.

The Passporter pictured is the Deluxe version - which I LOVE! It comes in an awesome little binder, with lots of little places to put papers, cards, tickets, reservation papers, maps, etc. And I love that you can add your own things to the book! I always print off a bunch of menus from this awesome, wonderful site to add to my Passporter. And the times and information from this other wonderful site. Each year I can just order the refill, and I'm good to go! The refill includes the cover, all the guidebook pages, and the stickers and Passpockets - everything except the binder. If you don't have the binder yet, you should get the Deluxe Starter Set. I've also seen it suggested that you take things out of the Deluxe Passporter to make it lighter if you carry it to the parks with you (I do!) Like taking out all the resort pages of the resorts that you're not staying at. But I could never do that! I want all that wonderful info right there at my fingertips! Plus, we like visiting the other resorts, so we like having the maps and such for each place. And... You never know what you might want to do! So it's good to have all the pages!

If you're even just thinking of getting a Passporter... STOP. Stop thinking about it and go get one! You won't regret it! It's a wonderful planning tool, and a great keepsake to have after your trip! We'll never go back to WDW without one!

And so now I'm back here!

Hehe... After much pondering on the subject, I have decided to start blogging here more regularly. About all kinds of stuff! But mostly about my little business. I've tried LiveJournal, and a couple of others, and even on my own site, but I think I'm really liking the simplicity and layout of this blog. Most likely I will still post occasionally on the other blogs, but this will be the main one. ;)

And now for the first bit of exciting news... One of Jimmy's songs (the one he wrote for me!) may be in a movie! He's working out the details with... Whoever does that ;) Hopefully everything will be finalized in the spring!! Very exciting! I'm so proud of him!

I've also got some great things in the works! Keep checking back for some very special one-of-a-kind goodies and sets! It seems that I've been drifting farther and farther away from polymer clay these days, as more and more people have started selling their polyclay charms and such online. Don't get me wrong, I still work on polymer clay orders all the time. And I do enjoy it! It's just that lately, I've started experimenting in some different media on my own time. Now, for me anyway, it's all about glittery resins and festive papers and do-die-for fabrics and yummy threads! Oh, and let's not forget the beads... Mountains and mountains of all sorts of delicious little seed beads! *giggle* Sometimes I think I'm not even going to use them; that I'm just going to leave them here in their little tubes and bags and just stare at them! *giggle* And yea... I'm still all about making the jewelry and accessories. I've just found some different ways to do it! ;)

So keep checking back!

Also, I'm not taking any more orders of any kind until after Christmas. I've got several parties and other holiday events planned, and I want to have lots and lots of time to spend doing other things!

I do still have things in my Etsy shop, so if you want something right now, just go there! Most likely I will be also adding a few things there soon, too!

I'll let you guys know when I'm taking orders again!

I'm also going to take some better pictures of my Disney World Passporter, and post the review here, too!

Sugar Rush

Mmm... Lots of tasty treats can be found on my site now! I've got several different shops with all sorts of goodies available!

B'Deetie Boutique

Summer sweets!

I've posted lots of new summer sweets at my website!

Here's a little preview:









B'Deetie Boutique

Visit the Ice Cream Parlour for details!