// And It’s Only a Wednesday//

At 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday morning (which just so happens to be this morning), my husband woke up. When I heard banging around in the kitchen, I assumed he was fixing our standard go-to breakfast: oatmeal. When I got out of bed a few minutes later, I realized he was making pancakes. 

Immediately I assumed I somehow missed a few days and it was actually Saturday (Hallelujah!). Because pancakes are typically reserved for a sacred Saturday breakfast. A morning where you have the luxury to be lazy and languid. 

But no. It’s only Wednesday. 

And then it hit me: I married a man who will make pancakes on a busy Wednesday morning—on a morning when we both have work and appointments and Things To Do.

Lucky me. <3

// Disney Marathon : The Grand Finale!//

There is one movie which, I *think* I can safely say, is my favorite. [Although, ask me tomorrow and I might give ya a different answer.]

For one thing, she has an entire castle dedicated to her at Disney World…

But there’s also the cute and funny mice…

And the mean kitty, Lucifer

And that part where Gus incorrectly says, “Happy Birthday!”

to be honest, I think this movie is my favorite for nostalgic reasons more than anything. I remember watching this movie on video a lot when I was a kid [and I’d put on a red sweater like Jaq the Mouse and act out the mouse parts…shows you how into princesses I was!]. I event watched it a good bit it college. I’d put it on to help me fall asleep at night sometimes.

In conclusion, there’s not much about this movie not to like. How can anyone not chuckle at this scene?

[And thus concludes the grand 2013 Disney Marathon. ‘Twas fun indeed. And, in just a few short days, I’ll get to have my first Disney experience EVER…and for a classic Disney kid like me, that’s kind of the best news ever. TIME TO GO ON MY HONEYMOON!]

// Disney Marathon 4.0//

Yesterday when I got home from work, I wanted to watch a movie with great music. Because if there’s one common thread in most Disney movies, it’s music. Everything ranging from Country, to ballads, to Jazz. One movie came to mind—one movie whose songs become delightful little ear worms: 

Aladdin

There’s a lot to love about this movie: Robin Williams as the Genie, Abu the hilarious monkey, a different kind of princess story…and the songs!

Exhbit A: One Jump

Exhibit B: Prince Ali

Exhibit C: A Whole New World

[An anecdote: I think I was in 3rd grade when this movie came out…or, at the very least, I was in 3rd grade when the movie came out on video—cause back then we watched VHS tapes on the VCR. Anywho, my teacher had this incentive program, if you will, where she’d put a marble in a medium size jar every time we did something well or got a compliment from another teacher. When the jar was full, we got to have a pizza party and watch a movie. When it came time to vote for the movie for our first pizza party, everyone voted unanimously: ALADDIN! Then when we won our second pizza/movie party we voted again…ALADDIN!]

// Disney Marathon 3.0//

Last night was a bit busy, so I didn’t watch a feature film. Instead I focused on my all time favorite classic Disney Character: Mister Donald Duck. Why do I like him so much? He’s always crotchety, frequently vengeful, and is just downright nasty most of the time. Based on that, I can’t explain why I like him so much. I just remember as a kid loving when the Donald cartoons would come on. I remember being a bit disgruntled over the Pluto cartoons particularly. Anywho, without further adieu, here are a few Donald Cartoons that have stuck with me over the years. 

[Side note: I love that I can search “Donald Duck cooking” on youtube and it can lead to the exact cartoon I remember!]

Chef Donald

Cartoon #2 features Donald as an unlucky Window Washer:

Window Cleaner

// Disney Night version 2.0//

Last night we viewed The Sword in the Stone.

Tonight is a double feature of sorts. you know how before you see a new Disney Pixar movie in theaters, you see an animated short? Well, this is sort of like that. 

Our short film tonight is A Cowboy Needs a Horse. First of all, at about 30 seconds in, look at how this little boy’s home is decorated and furnished! People are still going ga-ga after that style of decor! Next, this is just a sweet little cartoon with an infectious tune that will haunt you for the next 24 hours or so. You’re welcome. It’s whimsical and imaginative and fun. I don’t know why this particular cartoon has stuck with me all these years, but it has. Go figure. Enjoy!

Tonight’s feature film is The Many Adventures of Winnie-the-Pooh. Pooh and I go back. I loved Pooh and his buddies since I was little and even had a little Winnie-the-Pooh collection I kept up for a few years. I collected various character stuffed animals, stationary, books, mugs, figurines, and probably several other odds-and-ends. What is it about Pooh Bear, anyway? As Christopher Robin says, he’s just a silly old bear. Well, I think it’s because Pooh, his friends, and his stories are just so charming. They’re simple, because Pooh is simple. Pooh’s life is all about getting honey and his friends. It’s a reminder that life just doesn’t have to be so complicated, and isn’t it nice to focus on the sweeter things in life? Plus, this particular Pooh movie has one of my favorite Winnie-the-Pooh songs and scenes ever (sorry that last video is such poor quality).

And lest you think I’m reading into Winnie-the-Pooh too much, someone else found a deeper meaning to life through the life of Pooh and his friends. Author Benjamin Hoff explains effortlessly and unpretentiously Taoism in his book The Tao of Pooh. It’s definitely worth a read.

That’s all for tonight…adious!

// A Countdown//

Attention: My husband and I go on our honeymoon in 5 days. And in 8 days I will proudly set foot for the first time on hallowed, sacred ground: Disney World. A Mickey Mouse shirt shall adorn my breast and I will ball like a baby because this is, truly, my dream vacation.

[Back story: I was a bona fide Disney kid growing up. I feel I was part of the last, true Disney generation, when Disney still meant Mickey and the gang. I watched and owned all the Disney cartoon movies, and sometimes I’d act them out, too. Every day was Disney Day in my life and Donald was my absolute favorite. Amen. The End.]

So with my husband by my side, we shall conquer Disney and ride the tea cups and shake Captain Hook’s hand [Ha!] and have our picture taken with Cinderella.

In honor of this blessed event, and to commemorate my love for Classic Disney, I shall watch some of my favorite Disney nuggets this week. I say nuggets, because there are plenty of great Disney feature films, but there are also great short films and cartoons as well.

Tonight’s feature is the understated and sophisticated, The Sword in the Stone. The Sword in the Stone is a bit different than they typical Disney cartoon feature. There is singing and talking animals and magic. The singing isn’t your average melodious Disney song, though. And the talking animals are funny, but not particularly cuddly or cute like Winnie-the-Pooh or the mice in Cinderella. And there is certainly NO princess in this film. There is the opposite of the iconic Disney Princess, and if you look up “opposite of Disney Princess” in the dictionary, you’d find Mad Madam Mim.

But all of these “off-Disney” elements are what make this film special. Though Madam Mim is is pretty horrid, her song is hilarious, and one of my favorite Disney scenes ever occurs in this movie. Why I find it so funny and entertaining, I do not know. I do know; however; that I’m not alone in my love for this atypical Disney flick and all of his quirkiness. My very good friend, Mrs. Sarah Salisbury Persia, is a fan of the film for all the same reasons I am, which probably explains a lot about our friendship.

In any event, it’s time for a little dessert and Disney movie action.

Au Revoir! 

// Friday (Sung to the tune of the Sound of Silence by Simon & Garfunkel)//

Hello Friday, my old friend.

It’s so good to see you again.

Because this week totally kicked my butt

And made me feel like my life was in a rut.

And then it snowed…

And I was all like, WHAT THE FUCK?!

This totally sucks

So glad…this week…is over.

(No, but seriously. I am. I am so happy to see this sick, sad week end. Everything about this week was exhausting. Goodbye, crappy week! Don’t let the door hit you in the butt on your way out!)

(In hindsight, I don’t think it was the week that was crappy, so much as this prolonged winter we’re having. Just when spring starts to seem like it’s about to shine down on us in all her warm, glorious glory…it snows. Or the temperature drops 30 degrees or so. It has been truly rough.)

(The End.)

// mint green//

I’ve been home alone all evening and I’ve done everything from vacuum and dust to make a new dinner concoction (cold sesame noodles!) to painting my toenails (which, before tending to them tonight were kind of like raptor claws). 

I painted my toenails for a few reasons: 

1) I wanted to.

2) Josh is out of town (and he hates the way it smells, so I figure the few days he’s gone will be plenty of time for the nail polish smell to air out).

3. My toenails wanted to cheer spring along. If mint green toes doesn’t say, “Come on, Spring! You can do it!” then I don’t know what does.

Truly, this slow birth of spring is so depressing! Typically by this time in NC, the crocuses have poked up out of the ground and the daffodils are in full bloom. But there is NO sign of spring coming any time soon. The sun will sometimes dance out into the open from behind a cloud, but winter, for the most part, seems to be giving all of Lansing a big ol’ “Na-na-na-na-boo-boo.”

I’m doing my part by dressing up my toes.

You’re welcome.

// What is it about Mondays?//

Monday. I both love and loathe you. I love you because I have Monday off. Another day to get stuff done. Another day to stay in pajamas longer than necessary. Another day to catch up. But, I loathe you as well, because now you’re just like Sunday and I spend my whole day counting down the number of hour left until I have to go to work. So typical of you Monday.

But today was pretty decent in a crazy, hectic, Get outta muh way, I’m gettin’ shit done kind of way.

Here is all I accomplished from start to finish:

• I emptied the dishwasher.
• I hand washed the breakfast dishes.
• I picked out vows I like for my and J’s wedding ceremony.
• I found a reading I’d like to have read at the wedding.
• I emailed a Rabbi.
• I emailed a place that does make up and scheduled a make-up artist who will make my face be pretty for my wedding.th 
• I got myself gussied up (not really gussied, so much as just plain old dressed).
• I spoke on the phone with the florist and went over details with her.
• I went by the post office and bout some stamps.
• I met Josh for lunch. 
• We spoke on the phone to the minister for our wedding and Rabbi-in-training who dumped us to accept some job offer in Vancouver BC and settled on the order of events in the ceremony.
• I went to Michaels and found a frame for a print I ordered from Etsy.
• I found cute chalkboard table numbers.
• Came home and put the garbage out.
• I emailed my maid of honor to see if she’d help come up with a fun script for said chalkboard table numbers (she said yes!).
• Posted our engagement photos online.
• Emailed back and forth with florist/make-up artist/future mother-in-law.
• Fixed some beans

Yes, it’s been a very productive day. I still have one last thing looming over me, which I need to accomplish today and that is to get a start on some thank you cards.

Oh, and then the movie It’s Complicated came on TV. Could that BE any more perfect??

I also had an epiphany today, which I shared on Facebook:

When I have all the time in the world to tackle a project, my typical approach is, “Meh…gotta watch this Golden Girls episode first. And reorganize the pantry. And color coordinate my tights. And…and…” But when it’s down to the wire, I’m like the Tazmanian devil accomplishing said project and much more. First I feel super stressed and like the world is ending and then I feel like a super hero once I’m all finished, which I think only reinforces my procrastination approach to projects. I think this is what Oprah calls an “Aha! Moment.”

The End.