What Not to Wear- Office Edition

It's a groggy gray morning when you trudge wearily to the closet, beckoning something, anything, to call to you. How will you decide what to wear?

• Is it a bloated day? Nix the tucked pant and blouse look.
• Have you once again forgotten to shave your legs in the hasty morning shower? Adios skirts and dresses.
• Are your feet sore and tired? In your dreams, strappy heels and cute flats.
• Better yet, are you picking up extra hours, requiring a company-provided costume? Not to worry about looking attractive, as these swoon-worthy ensembles include flood length pants that double for both camel-toe and a tuck in bra, and, oh yes, contain zero sex appeal. Dreams come true!

So how do you know what to wear and what to leave behind while picking that perfect outfit?

To be simple. I have no idea what will make a good outfit. It can be anything. An accessory alone can make or break an ensemble, not to mention what an adorable top can do. I always wanted one of those closet organizers as seen in Clueless, which matches the perfect pieces together, but alas, that invention is stuck in the realm of fiction.

Though I can't say what makes an outfit a success, I can share some tips on what makes an outfit a flop. Here are the top ten examples of (sad but true) fashion faux pas witnessed in the building. Enjoy!

1. Stirrup pants. With an aviator top. And ascot. A real lfe ascot.
2. Red mini-skirt and black patten leather go-go boots.
3. Matching polka dot print dress with perfectly patterned polka dot shoes.
4. White tights. Not opaque or nude colored. White.
5. It's five o'clock somewhere in a short sateen nightclub dress and knee high boots.
6. Crocs. It does not matter what kind, whether ballet flat, original, or the boot style. They are still, and always will be, ugly shoes.
7. It's not easy being green, especially with a lime green twin set and olive green knit pant combo.
8. Flannel shirts-- great for camping, not for the workplace.
9. Feathered hair. What happened in the eighties needs to stay in the eighties.
10. Striped skirts mixed with dotted and bright shirts.

Save a Horse

*Bonus guest look: Cowboy hat, Ed Hardy tee and boots with real spurs at the Magic Kingdom. On a day that was not at the Halloween Party. My heart breaks at not getting this stud's number*

Hopefully this will help with things to keep in mind your next bleary eyed morning.

What looks have you seen that should be added to an "OH NO!" list of outfits?

Safe-D Begins with "Tree"

Time and time again, we are vehemently explained the dangers in texting on our phones.

Don't do it while driving.

Don't do it while walking.

As a matter of fact, just drop it all together. I hear Morse Code is coming back into style.

But alas, these dangers were demonstrated when, on Friday night, a distracted cast member was allegedly texting on the blackberry and fell on the three meager stairs leading into our building.

Never have it said that Disney is not concerned about safety of its cast. By Monday morning, there were two rows of thick bushes lining the center of the walkway to force cast members to use the handrails. Some shy from the rails in defiance, tempting fate by walking through the puddles the constant watering of the bushes creates. Some now cling to the rails to ensure that the same will never happen in their lives, regardless of whether or not the company phone is in use.

By Wednesday, there was rebellion in the air as ribbons and ornaments were placed into the thick branches.

If these are still here in December, I vote to gather around singing Christmas cheer for all to hear!

The Fabulous Forties

A lot happens in forty years. People come and go in life, technology reaches new heights, fashion thankfully has an overhaul (sorry '80's), and the world completely changes.

And yet, some things remain constant. One of our team members illustrated that today by celebrating her fortieth anniversary with the Walt Disney World Company. Forty Years. This woman was on the opening team of the few individuals that changed the face of Orlando. She was there when ground first broke in 1971, and still hard at work making magic for guests.

At the celebratory luncheon, our department gathered at Coronado Springs Resort to rejoice in her amazing accomplishments. There, we were greeted by Senior Vice President of Walt Disney World Parks and Resorts, George Aguel. He congratulated this incredible woman's accomplishment and joined us in wishing her the best.

It is truly amazing to see that many cast members are this passionate about a company to dedicate your life to it. Five years with one company may be average. Ten years might be incredible. But forty? Forty is magical.

It is such an amazing feat for this team member in Youth Sales, and it was a nice afternoon spent out of the office in a business lunch setting. Even magic makers need to celebrate once in a while!

Be a FAN!

Have you ever seen red carpet events and wondered where all those excited fans came from? Do you ever see them and wonder how all these delightful faces can stand and cheer for the celebrities with almost mirrored expressions? Maybe even unison cheers? Perhaps zero originality in the chants? Ever wonder?

Let me tell you.

Here at Disney, many of those fans are paid cast members. That is right, for two hours on Friday night, the Wedding interns and Youth Sales interns found themselves earning extra cash by cheering on the teams at the Citrus Bowl for an All-Star dining experience.

We waved pom-poms. We went hoarse screaming for teams that have long forgotten names. We put up hands for extreme high fives from the strong-armed football players.

We were simply the best fans that money can buy.

Wedding and Youth Sales interns strike again!

I don't want to celebrate...

Birthdays.

Anniversaries.

All important things to celebrate at Walt Disney World.

So when a manager says to his team that he does not want an over the top celebration for his 20 year anniversary with the company, they obviously complied.

The morning greeted him with an office completely filled with colorful balloons. Nothing says "Don't celebrate" like wading through colorful orbs, right?

Cheers!

Baby, You Can Drive My Car

What is the sign of moving up in the world? Is it the ability to put on a power suit and not feel like you are playing dress up whenever you look in the mirror? Is it enjoying cocktail hour with actual cocktails? Is it needing a security badge to enter and exit a work building?

I think, perhaps, I have reached the apex of workforce. The creme de la creme, if you will.

I drove the company car.

Not so much a car, mind you, maybe a better word for it would be the company boat. The Youth Sales department drives a Suburban, easily the largest vehicle I have ever driven. This vehicle was chosen so that clients can sit comfortably in the backseat without having their personal bubble invaded.

We literally own the road. Or like to think we do, though the newly repaired bumper proves otherwise.

When I returned the car keys to Lorraine, I joked that it was a good thing the company car was not a Caddy. If it had been, the car and I would be missing, heading south, never to be seen again. Such is my desire to fulfill the lifelong desire of driving such a dream machine.

Well, as it turns out, the company car used to be a Cadillac. I was so close, and yet so far. Instead of the sleek and impressive build of elegance, I went fishing in the Youth Sales Boat. We are worms.

It was quite the experience, but I think at the end of the day, I would take Baby Belle any day.

Young Hearts Run FREE

As recent college graduates, we love free things. It seems to be ingrained into our very being, instilled into every strand of DNA. We cherish each free pencil, embrace lumpy free pillows, dream of free food.

Eeyore has the right idea

It is a way of life. The transition from broke college student to cash-strapped young professional has not been easy, especially with outlet malls around every corner (curse you VS, Express and NY& Co outlets!)

Any chance of free or discounted items is seen as a God-send. Free food? Yes. Free hugs? Yes. Buy one, get one free? Not so much.

On Friday morning, the Youth Sales interns huddled into the individual cubicles to prepare for a full day ahead, when a new message popped into our email box: Free Posters in the Resource Center of the Celebration building.

Kristin and Stephanie had the right idea of booking it downstairs. I thought it wouldn't be a big deal, maybe one or two cutesy little posters, nothing fancy. I have never been more mistaken.

We should have known something was amiss by the hoards of people anxiously waiting for the elevator doors to open. And when they ran to the stairwell, we knew this was big.

Free posters of a movie and show I have never seen.

The Poster Give-away was the most organized free-giveaway possible. It wove in and out of the entire Resource Center, utilizing all six (rather enormous) rooms. It was a battle to tooth-and-nail to get the good ones. And yes, it was a vast majority of recent college graduates serving as interns. Desperate times call for desperate measures. If only we had been Miley Cyrus or Sorcerer's Apprentice fans, as those seemed to be the only posters untouched.

Though we arrived shortly after the 9:30 email went out (Lord help you if you arrive an hour later!) most were picked over when we got our place. However, we did managed to pick up a few good posters. Kristin and I begged for Enchanted posters, and I also brought home a few others to adorn our living room wall.

The tales of Land of the Free doesn't end there, however. There is a part two of the (now) obsession of all things complimentary, and it's name is Grocery Bingo.

Last night, Disney Housing provided College Program, International Program, and Professional Interns the opportunity to win groceries with Bingo.

It is a good concept in theory, but not so much in practice. Kristin and I spent two hours of our lives attempting to beat the 90% of participants that were International Program kids, but to no avail. The quest for free items wore out and we walked away empty-handed.

I am very bitter. Next time I plan on using my Certamen skills to swat out the competition.

Apocalypse Now

Picture this scenario:

It's a calm, collected, quiet Thursday afternoon, with the Orlando breeze rustling through the trees. A storm is brewing outside.

Along with inside the halls of the Youth Sales department.

It seems to be a normal day. Interns scurrying about in an attempt to look occupied. Managers restlessly watching the clock until the prearranged event for all Marketing departments in the late afternoon away from the office.

The prearranged event that changed everything. It was meant to be a celebration of what the company had accomplished, as well as a look toward the future goals. Instead, it left a horrid path in its wake.

At least in the eyes of the three new interns.

During the normal day, one person watches the youth phone hotline in the morning, and one in the afternoon. It's never been a painful experience before. Sometimes it is actually quite cheery (where else can you end a call with "Have a magical day!" without sounding insane?!) Until, that is, all the supervisors and managers leave for the afternoon event thinking that the two other departments we worked with were staying behind from the event.

However, these other two departments were gone, with the others, to enjoy the festivities, leaving all their potential phone calls to funnel into the Youth Sales Hotline.

And the Youth Hotline was manned by three lowly interns, in a state of panic, as call after call rolled in with impossible questions and few solutions.

Three hours later, and countless phone messages to every Manager blackberry on our list, we managed to survive. Excruciating? Yes. Terrifying? Yes. Downright memorable? Oh Yes.

We survived!

The Randy Saga: Part II

We thought it was over.

We thought the chapter of our lives involving Randy was complete.

We thought wrong.

When the three interns entered the office in the early morning (no one really talks before the third or fourth cup of coffee) we were greeted by the cheerful manager that had previously mentioned her friendship with Randy (click here to read the first Randy newsflash). She exclaimed that after we put our bags down, she had something to show us.

We knew. Oh, we knew. It was Randy news.

And what news it was. We were shown her wedding album, which, when opened, revealed the manager's personal photos of the dress, her ceremony, her reception. It was all extremely lovely, but I was a bit confused why she was showing it to us. I mean, of course, beautiful pictures, but confused nonetheless.

But then, she pointed it out. One of her guests was a much younger and long-haired Randy. Not just Randy though, but a Randy that looked like he had just finished gracing the latest romance novel cover. It was AMAZING. I wish with my entire heart I could have taken a picture of it. I would never have believed it otherwise.

Another Randy secret: complete. The only step to be completed next would be to meet him in person. Cross your fingers!

Welcome to My World

Celebration Place

Monday morning, the Celebration interns (the town created by Walt Disney World's corporate headquarters) huddled nervously, waiting for the next step in our new lives. We each had been given a piece of paper that stated a time to meet a coordinator and what to wear. That was it.

We all kept an eye on the overhead clock as 8:30 rolled past, and we sat, waiting in the pristine lobby for the ominous names to appear. The conversation among the dozen interns thinned into a nervous silence as the waiting game continued.

The first set of elevator doors opened with a man beckoning a certain department, causing a couple interns to quickly depart from the group. One by one, the interns climbed into the elevator and disappeared. The three Youth Sales interns waited for a woman named Lorraine. The remaining interns had dwindled to half their populace when a woman came from the doors and called for the Youth Sales department to follow her to the third floor.

With that closing elevator door, the new chapter began.

Disney Magic From the Start

As the new interns, we were greeted with a beautiful sign as we made our way into the Youth Sales department this morning. What a perfect way to start the adventure!

Let the Memories Begin

"Good bye may seem forever. Farewell is like the end, but in my heart is the memory and there you will always be." -Walt Disney Company

Disney Spring Vacation '11

In May 2010, a tearful farewell was said to the place I had called home for five wonderful months. The place where wishes and dreams came true. The place where anything was possible. Goodbye to the castle, the laughter, the magic. Where else in the world do you have the opportunity to change lives in just a smile, transform a day with just a word? Being a fairy godmother-in-training had been an opportunity of a lifetime, with so many tales of beautiful little princesses and their fantastic families.

Even before my recent May graduation from the University of Missouri, I was sure that I was set for whatever "the real world" would bring. So I began to plan, to organize my life, all the while secretly pining for Mickey to take me back.

And then, that fateful day in April. The phone call that commenced in a sputtering blur (in my part) but ended with a "And you have a magical day!" The phone call that told me to grab my Mouseketeer hat and celebration button. The call that told me there was still magic to be found.

And here I am. One week left in Chicago before the great adventure happens once more.

Let the memories begin!