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Planning

nobody@vox.com(Crystal) — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 15:40:30 -0700

I officially started planning for our October trip to Orlando. What does that entail for me? Putting together a packet (yes, a packet) of the following information:
- Overview map of Disneyworld
- Maps & attractions of each individual park (including highlighting everything I want to see at each one - hello Canada Pavillion at Epcot!)
- A google map route from the resort to the Magic Kingdom (the furthest drive)
- Tickets & pass information
- Pricing on car rental for the week
- Airline information (pricing, available flights, etc)
- Printout of all closets convenience and grocery stores in relation to the resort

I'm a little Type A ; Nick and I had a meeting about the trip this morning, filled with red pen & highlighting.

You would swear I'm going to a foreign land, and not a theme park. Ah well, you guys know me. Disney is life! The suite is booked at the resort (we're staying off-park, which is a bummer, until I think about the fact that it's an apartment and not a tiny room), and we're booking tickets asap.

The next four months will prove to be busy ones.. amongst all of the preparation for Phoenix Fashion Week (see asterisk at the bottom of this) which is Oct 1-4 this year, I have family coming in for a week in july/august, LIANE&VEGAS at the end of August and now this trip.
It's amazing to think that the year is already half over, and that the rest of it is going to fly.

I don't have much other news to report, other than I am currently undergoing a facial peel - it's day 3, and it's really not that big a deal... and yes, I should have before/after pictures. Hopefully I'll get some kickass results. The only downside is to avoid direct sunlight, and with Phoenix summer in full swing, that's nearly impossible.. so I've been cooped up in the house all weekend with my tv, my computer and my pitcher of lemonade. I was able to go out today, so I went to the mall for lunch with Nick & saw the Hulk. Great movie. Wonderful movie. Ed Norton was amazing. You really FEEL for his character. If you're on the fence about seeing it, I would go. It's really brilliant.

In other news, an XL tank from Old Navy is too big on me.
!!!!!

* Outside the Cube has officially signed with Phoenix Fashion Week to be the sole marketing & design consulting firm for the next two years! If you're in the Phoenix area, start looking out for us. We're so proud to be a part of this event.. our love for marketing and creativity is a perfect match for their project. More information about PFW will follow. Also, keep an eye out at OTC's official website for a bit of a facelift and a Works page.

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Pic Post : Because I miss Disney already.

nobody@vox.com(Crystal) — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 17:57:19 -0700

These are pictures from Nick's camera, which I just got to today. I know we were there literally less than a month ago, but I already miss it!

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Disneymania

nobody@vox.com(Crystal) — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 15:09:49 -0700

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Upbeat>Downbeat

nobody@vox.com(Crystal) — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 17:01:53 -0700

It seems I have less and less time to blog, and that's a sad thing. I have a few spare minutes here at the office, so I thought Id post a small update. I spent the day working on a redesign of one of our websites (that I feel is ugly and is in need of prettying up). and decided which columns I want done by the end of the week. Outside of that, I've been working at home on Project Get-Me-The-Eff-Out-Of-Here, and it's going well. I'm excited about it, and I'm looking forward to when I can talk about it openly.
Which is another reason why I haven't blogged lately.. I have so much stuff to talk about, but nothing I can really say.

Okay, so on to more upbeat things:
My sister and I could not be more excited to be in the same city again. It feels like Montreal this summer never happened, which is, I think, a good thing.. shows how close we've grown. I can't wait to be in Montreal again, during December, in the snow. I have visions of peacoats, snow flurries, being outside with a cup of to-go hot chocolate from the local dep. Goofing around with my sister, seeing old friends, going to Fairview.
Ahh, while I love life here in Phoenix, sometimes that sounds just so... perfect.

Additionally, Disney for New Years Eve 2008 sounds incredibly wonderful. They do an amazing job of decorating for other occasions, so I can only imagine that they really deck it out for New Years. I know, I know. I'm 26, he's 29, and we should be spending our travel budget on places like Paris, and London and Italy and Australia or at least, San Fran or New York... but we keep coming back to Disneyland. Evidentally, we're just big kids. Might be time to grow up soon, but I haven't felt any urgency to do so just yet ;)

And it's now 5:00pm... wrap up time. A demain!

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Nick's Birthday Weekend : Heat 4: World of Disney

nobody@vox.com(Crystal) — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 20:47:07 -0700

And after lunch, and because my best friend and gf were kind enough to hook me up with a GC, we stopped in for some shopping at World of Disney. The design and merchandising of this store is IMMACULATE. People have very different tastes in what constitutes art... to me, this is art.

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Nick's Birthday Weekend: Heat 3 : Lunch at Naples

nobody@vox.com(Crystal) — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 20:42:01 -0700

We drove to L.A. for loads of fun in the sun (or so we thought) but MAINLY for a concert. We knew as soon as we neared Anaheim, a stop at Downtown Disney would be a must. We went to Naples, which, quite possibly, has the best salad and pizza in the free world.
Some shots at lunch, and around DD:

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FUNNIEST.TRAILER.EVER

nobody@vox.com(Crystal) — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 16:32:13 -0700

Meet the Robinsons

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There's no place like home.

nobody@vox.com(Crystal) — Sun, 10 Dec 2006 16:50:39 -0700

The trip home was a long one. It always seems like it takes longer to get home than it does to get there. Yesterday morning, I did some last minute shopping and we tried to find a semi-good looking beach. Nick chose Long Beach, figuring it was the closest. (I know you Californians are laughing right now). We ended up at the Port of Los Angeles where "Ships make Berth" (insert Pirates joke here). Not impressed. Decide to not waste any more time and head back to Phoenix.
I slept most of the drive and we got back into town at about 8. Settled in, did some laundry and watched Return of the Jedi. Nice and relaxing. It's nice to be home, but I already miss the courtesy, good natured looks and smiles that come from being in Disneyland.
Today was spent watching Attack of the Clones, cleaning up, having lunch, watching Borat (I could have done without seeing THAT again) and now just taking it easy. Tomorrow is back to the Real World. I don't want to go back. I don't know how I feel about the current job place I'm in. So far, it's not what I hoped it would be. It's actually pretty disappointing. But I'm going to give it a good try before I decide to move on.
I just miss writing.
I crave creating.
I took the time I had to write before for granted, and now I'm wishing I could have the serendipitous moment: the perfect place, the perfect story, the perfect time, the perfect love.
I'm keeping my eyes open for it. I'll know it when it hits me.
Until then, it's good to be home.

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Day Four: Our Last Day or How many hours in a row can we do this?

nobody@vox.com(Crystal) — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 08:55:43 -0700

"How long have we been here?"
"Oh, I don't know. A long time."
"Let's do the math, I'm totally interested."
"Okay"
"..."
"hmmm.."
"..."
"If we leave now, we've been in the parks for nine and a half hours."
"GOOD LORD!!"
"I know"
"We're so hardcore"

Last night was the final night in Disneyland. The day was spent running around CA and DL like madpeople, making sure we did everything we loved just one last time. After doing a little figuring, we came to the conclusion that we've spent over 32 hours in the parks this week.
Yeah, we're kind of ready to go home.
Trip totals:
Rides:
Space Mountain: 4
Star Tours: 2
Indiana Jones: 3
Thunder Mountain: 3
Tower of Terror: 2
Soarin Over California: 2
Other/Misc: 1
Times we saw the Jedi show: 3.5

We did get to see the bulk of the parade, which was nice. We attempted to get into the Blue Bayou at least 3 times, and the last time we had discovered that they were booked for dinner until Monday.. as of last Tuesday. So yeah, scratch that. We did more big thrill rides, and ended the night in the park riding Big Thunder Mountain in the dark. (Rapidly becoming my favorite ride). I spent farrrr too much money on souvenirs ($100 on Star Wars stuff alone) and ate at some amazing restaurants.
And so, we wrap up the trip a little wiser about running the parks, a little broker, a lot more tired than when we got here, and our hearts and heads full of amazing memories and the excitement of doing it all again soon.

1. Nick on the train, for the last time.. looking DELISH in my Pirates military cap.
2. The madness that was the Pizza Port in Tomorrowland at lunch
3. Us in line at Soarin' Over California
4. Nick waitting at Soarin'

Today's Agenda:

1. Since it's not overcast, we're going to drive to the ocean, get out and go OOOOHH!! LOOK THE OCEAN! and promptly return to the Jeep after taking some pics.
2. Blow the last 75$ I have at World of Disney
3. Head home to Phoenix at noon-ish
4. AVOID THE OUTLETS!! I AM BROKE!!
5. Get home, do some laundry, settle in and watch the new Pirates DVD (and maybe some Star Wars!!)

Will update in the morning, likely.. and as soon as I have access to the digital pics, I'll be posting them. You wouldn't believe how many kickass Vader ones we have!
Also, look for this journal with detailed pictures coming soon to http://www.amouseandadream.com

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Day Three: Coasters, coasters, coasters...

nobody@vox.com(Crystal) — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 09:16:04 -0700

"That was hysterical!"
"Yes, yes it was. But not as hysterical as a steak to the face."
"Nothing is as funny as a steak to the face!!"
"I know!"

Day three was kicked off in traditional Disney fashion: breakfast in New Orleans overlooking the river, watching the Mark Twain sail by. While Nick did a traditional eggs/pancakes/potatoes thing, I opted for the ever classic Mickey pancake. A+!
Being in New Orleans is one of our favorite things to do.. and it puts us right at the entrance to Pirates of the Carribbean. I had forgotten just how amazing it is. It really takes you to a new world.. you feel like you're IN the movie. Simply amazing.
We decided from there to hit up some shops in Adventureland, and get rid of some of the money that was burning a hole in our wallets. Right across the corner was Indiana Jones, and we couldn't resist riding it for the second time this trip.
The day was full of re-runs, including two rides on Space Mountain, and riding Big Thunder Mountain at night. Now, it is certainly an impressive ride during the day.. but at night, it almost seems to go a bit faster, takes the turns a bit harder and drop you just a bit lower. It was without a doubt, the highlight of the day.
We took some time out from the running around in the parks to head to Downtown Disney and to the AMC to catch a movie. We did want to keep the Disney Christmas magic going, so we chose the Santa Claus 3. Very funny, better than I thought it would be.
We ended the day the way we started it: in traditional Disney fashion.. with the amazing fireworks display. As with the last trip, I was moved to tears by the show (yes, I'm a sap, I get it!) and the kicker was the snow. Only in Disneyland can they make it snow in Orange County. It was just perfect.

1. The end of the day, waitting for the shuttle at the depot.
2. YAY SHUTTLE! It's a fantasic sight after being on your feet all day long.
3. Us in Adventureland. (Check out Husband's new shades!)
4. Husband LOVES his breakfast ;)
5. My Mickey pancakes.

Today's Agenda:
1. FANTASMIC!!!!!!
2. Tower of Terror (I think I've given up on getting the courage to ride Screamin'&Splash Mountain)
3. Thunder Mountain at night again
4. SHOP!!!
5. Stay until park closes (midnight)

It's our last day, and I couldn't be more heartbroken.. how did this week past so fast?! I'm off to savor the magic one last time.

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