The Tale of Georg and Pierce

Meet Meg and my little creation of Georg, personified by the most germ-infested place on Disney property: the Lego Store at Downtown Disney! Now if only we could find PIEEEERCE!

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!

Surf City, Here We Come

Holiday weekends: the young professional's gift from above.

This weekend was filled with lazy days, sleep-in mornings, shuffling around in bathrobes and mickey mouse slippers, crazy and snarled hair, and ice cream breakfasts. The days were perfect.

When those moments quickly fade away and we realize we need to end the (near creepy) lurking in the apartment and face the daylight every once in a while, what do we do?

Enjoy the sunlight and warm weather at the water park!

On Sunday, Kristin, Naomi and I ventured to Typhoon Lagoon. We packed in a day filled with naps, snacks, water rides (well, Kristin and I did. Naomi had a date with Mr. Sandman), and my favorite of all activities, the lazy river. We went around on the lazy river at least four times, only ending when it was so jammed with people that moving was no longer an option. I was relieved towards the end of the day: I had successfully evaded the sun with little to no burn (with the help of Kristin and Naomi's constant motherly care and spray down technique of SPF). It was luck.

R.I.P. Dorothy's swim top

That luck did not continue when Dorothy and I headed towards the other Disney water park, Blizzard Beach. There, we went on each water slide. They had luges, rafts, and slides that are complete drops at 65 mph. The last slide marked the death of Dorothy's swim top as she flashed the unsuspecting crowds on the high speed attractions. Needless to say, we licked our wounds by rounding the lazy river a few times.

I thought we returned home unscathed. Safe for another day. I was clearly mistaken. Before I went to Kristin and Naomi's apartment with Karen for a holiday barbecue, I noticed a bright red chest and pair of shoulder blades. Turned around. Yes. New definition of lobsterback.

You win again, sun. Touche. Say hello to my little friend, aloe vera!

Happy holiday with your loved ones!

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!

The Disney Countdown

You can't come to Disney World unprepared. Not only do you need to make sure you pack a life into a suitcase (and puddles of SPF!) but a mental preparation as well.

In order to help Meghan get into the Disney mindset for her upcoming trip, I have been placing Disney television spots for her to watch from day ten to check in. Enjoy the final list in no particular order!

What's your personal favorite on the list (or, better yet, is there one off the list that is a personal favorite?)

Regina Girls Sing

This week will mark the Regina's first Young Alumnae Choir concert. Through the summer, girls from the graduating classes of 2006 through 2008 have been singing, commiserating, gossiping, eating, and back to singing. Needless to say, those were wonderful Monday nights (miss you, alto section!) It is amazing how the years apart have not changed these friendships or (more importantly for this event) the vocal arrangements.

Thursday's concert will host memorable songs that had previously been performed in Regina history, such as Les Choristes, Disney hits, and back by popular demand, Moses Hogan. There will also be Elton John classics among countless others. A little something for everyone!

This is a free event to the public held in Regina's auditorium Thursday at 8:00 p.m. Please support the bake sale in the foyer, where the all funds will benefit the RDHS Music Department.

Good luck lovely ladies, I know you will be magnificent.

If you are in the area, come listen to the fabulous Regina alumnae as they grace the stage once more and make the music come to life!

(click image to enlarge)

Total Bull

A few days ago, on the drive back home from a long day's work, I spotted something to the side of the road.

It was in the distance, and the brown blob appeared to have four legs and a long torso. Could it be?

"Look, a pony!" I exclaimed, as excited as a child at Christmas. Kristin turned to me, stunned into silence. Her look said it all. No. It was not a pony. Disappointed, I tried again.

While keeping my eyes on the road, I quickly did a double take. The animal was in closer view, and I noted the compact body frame, rather than the equine elegance. And something protruding from either side of its ears. Horns. Meaning...

"A goat?" I questioned. Kristin stared once more in disbelief. She had raised goats. Unlike myself, she knew her animals.

"It's a bull," she finally stated.

THESE are horns

What? The only bulls I have ever seen were those in Looney Tunes. Instead of majestic horns, there were tiny little nubs on their heads. I wanted the Scottish Highland cow horns here in Orlando, but there was nothing of the kind.

I am waiting to see a real bull. Until then, these are just ugly, ugly ponies.

Like a Bolt out of the Blue

I absolutely love working in Disney World. Where else do you have the option to go sit on the beach with friends and watch a gorgeous fireworks show every night?

Terrible Two: fun and fancy free

On Monday evening, after a long day of filing papers and taking magical phone calls, it was decided that the perfect end to the evening needed to take place at the Poynesian Resort. So off we went, getting lost along the way, until we sat in the comfortable beach chairs, pineapple drinks in hand, waiting for Jiminy Cricket's spiel.

The fireworks show, Wishes, is one of my favorite things in Disney World. Whether it is the first time seeing it, or the hundredth, it is breathtaking. How the Magic Kingdom continues to amaze with this spectacular event every night is beyond me. I think what makes such an impact on my viewing of the show is how it affects others. During the show young and young at heart alike watch in wonderment, and listen with rapt attention (not to mention the many tears that are shed during the 15 minute show!)

Nothing can ruin Wishes. The only downside to our time on the beach was the music did not play (though I have heard it usually does, so this may have just been a singular malfunction). We were on beach chairs that partially obscured the already tiny castle (Cinderella lives on the other side of the Lagoon), but really nothing can block the fireworks that lit up the entire sky.

Take a night to make a wish, and do as dreamers do-- and all your wishes will come true!

Two guys, two pianos...a whole lot of Billy Joel

This past weekend, we journeyed over to the Boardwalk's Jellyrolls, a dueling piano bar in the area. By the time we arrived, it seemed that every available inch of space was taken up, with both tourists and area locals alike.

The pianists were talented beyond belief, one minute having the audience sing along to power ballads of Journey, and the next minute the room teemed with laughter at their attempt to spew as many TV theme songs possible in under five minutes.

Nervous music purveyors ventured towards the pianos and deposited slips of napkins that revealed song requests (and often a bit of green) before being reviewed by the pianists. Of course, this all happened while they continued playing and singing without pause. Or, in the case of many songs, the piano men were also apt to beat box and play the tambourine. Maybe they should try some more cowbell?

Off to Jellyrolls

I knew we would be off to a good night when we entered to a rendition of "The Wild Rover" (Get your Irish on!) and then a bachelorette party proceeded to send the soon-to-be bride up on stage to show off her Irish dance skills.

Though there may have been an overabundance of Johnny Cash and Jimmy Buffett that night (I can only take Ring of Fire so many ways) it was a fun evening from beginning to end.

Recommendations: get there early. Keep an eye out for tables. Don't trust the popcorn. And if a 45 year old man asks to buy you a drink, promptly leave the vicinity.

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!