Bride Wars

This is why I love Karen. And the fact that Karen works in Disney Fairytale Weddings.

I only bring stories home to share with my roommates. Karen, on the other hand, brings home delicious wedding cake samples to try leftover from the day!

I don't know how brides can make such tough decisions. Do they choose the tropical mousse icing, the chocolate fudge icing, the peanut butter perhaps? Don't even get me started on the tray of tiny cake slices that serve as the delectable vehicle for the said icings. Red velvet, dark chocolate, marble, they have it all. Which one, which one??

Leave it to Dorothy to solve our apartment's dilemma. She scoops a different type of icing onto the cake slices and stacks them as if they were lunchables, so in the end, it resembles a mini Tower of Pisa.

No matter how you slice it, it is always a delicious treat. Bon appetit!

Jeremiah Was a Bullfrog

This little guy greeted me on the apartment stairs late one night. Though we have seen many a lizard on the walkway, I have not seen an amphibian, and have definitely not seen one this green. How cute is he?!

The Pursuit of Happiness

When all is said and done, it is the little things in life that make me happy. Like this evening's grand discovery at the Target Supercenter with Karen, Kristin, and Naomi.

Koala Yummies.

The cookies of my childhood and dreams of my soul. These small snacks are the best thing in the world, having a cookie crunch mixed with a gooey chocolate center. Obviously, I am obsessed.

I have seen these at Epcot Japan (even seen the family size tub of them, which let me tell you, was tempting) but they were a bit high in the pricerange. At Target's dollar section, however, the price was just right, granted that these seem to be the off-brand of the delicious treat. It is still just as good!

I am on cloud nine. The only thing that could maybe make these cookies better is some chocolate pudding. And of course...more.

Grade School Mix and Mingle

Think back to your eight grade or freshman year of high school. All the way back in time. Now hone in on the first dance you had. What was that like?

My first school dance (end of eight grade, oh my!) was basic awkwardness with boys on one side of the room and giggling girls on the other. You would think things change.

Ten years later, and the awkwardness ensues. Our apartment complex and Disney housing organized the first "Meet and Greet" event last night, where about thirty college students met by the apartment pool to get to know each other. In theory, it's a great idea, since we will be getting close to each other in the next six months.

Wonderful example of good ideas gone bad. Especially when these said kids are getting off eight hours shifts from work and half are still in business attire and half are wearing board shorts and oversize shirts. Or, better yet, things will get worse when water guns and field games are brought into the picture. As Kristin explained, many proposed games were those also found at Bible camp.

Let's just say, at least there was free food. And Miss Colleen, news flash: ca-caw!

Ohana means Family

Moving back to Orlando was an exciting change. It meant starting a new adventure in life, working for the Big Cheese, and ultimately being in the "happiest place on Earth." Every. Single. Day.

I won't lie. I was nervous. Probably more nervous than I had been the first time I came to Disney last January. I knew the opportunity was limited, so I wanted to take full advantage of it, but not knowing what to expect in the program was daunting.

I missed my friends. And I missed my family. And a 100% surprise factor of who I would share a living space for six months was just short of terrifying. Exciting, but still enough to keep me awake at night wondering.

I moved into the apartment at 8:30 in the morning on Thursday. I think I may have fallen in love with my new roommates by about 8:30 that evening.

There are four of us living in this place we now call home. Four happy voices that share stories from our past and blend them into an exciting future. We all come from different parts of the country, but have an unwavering fascination that will carry us through.

The first roommate is a Pennsylvania native named Dorothy (and yes, the Wizard of Oz jokes have already been set into motion).  She is working in the Animal Kingdom with the stars of the park: the animals. Though she has the odd hours of the bunch (she leaves the apartment before 4:30 in the morning!) she is sure to leave adorable messages on the fridge reminding us to have a good day.

Living with Dorothy is the southern sweetheart of the group, Libby. This little munchkin makes dreams come true with Fairy Tale Weddings. She has a constant smile and infectious laugh, but what can really describe her is her fashion icon: Emma Pillsbury from Glee. Not to mention that when asked about her hair poof (the MUCH classier version than that seen on Jersey Shore) she mentioned "the higher hair the closer to heaven!" Another common phrase that can be heard like clockwork is "Oh my Lanta!" Adorable, right?

A magical ride on Splash Mountain

Last is my own darling roommate, Karen, another dream maker in Fairy Tale Weddings. She is wonderfully amazing beyond words. Karen and I were the first ones to move in, and it was pure luck (and helpful suggestions by our mothers) that we decided to take a room together rather than split off. She provides sage advice from decorating tips, to life conundrums, to wardrobe malfunctions. Karen also has proven to have the unique talent of folding ponchos into nearly impossible sizes. Truly, it is more applicable than any college degree. What is really amazing is that we did not know each other before this program, as we had been on the same College Program together. And lived in the same apartment building. And (wait for it) had been in the same small marketing course. What an example of fate stepping in to see you through!

I am extremely lucky to have such a wonderful family system back home, and now, an amazing start to one here in Orlando. My Ohana keeps growing!