Adventures with Alexandra

The Zombies Are Coming

2012-03-02T07:00:00.001-05:00

Photo from the official RFYL Facebook Page

This weekend I am running the Run For Your Lives Zombie-Infested 5K outside of Atlanta. Not only does this course have zombies, but it also has secret obstacles along the 3.1 mile path! I have never done a race like this before, so I am a little nervous. While I don't know what to expect, I am also really excited at the same time. Let me tell you why:

When I first heard about this race I was really into doing it, but I missed the first waves where the registration costs are at their lowest. I was bummed I would miss the fun. Who wouldn't want to run from zombies? They are the new vampires these days, no?

"Zombies don't eat fruit."
Photo from the official RFYL Facebook page.

Well as luck would have it I did my research and found out that if you VOLUNTEER to be a zombie, you get ALL the perks! For $25 you get:

a zombie transformation (clothes and makeup provided)

race t-shirt

free race on race day

a pass to the Apocalypse Party

free parking

free beverage including beer

snacks and drinks in the zombie tent

a race medal

For $75 as a runner, I would have just gotten the shirt, medal and the ability to run the course! The party and parking are extra costs for runners! Granted, if you are entering a race wave as a zombie, your run is not timed and you do not get a bib which means you cannot win any awards at the end. But, I would take everything listed above over someone recording my race time...lets be honest! But, zombie registration does sell out really fast. They only need a limited amount of people - the deal doesn't last long.

Yes, I am excited for this!
Photo from the official RFYL Facebook page.

My friends and I are running the race at 11am. At about 1pm we are transforming into zombies. The event provides all of the wardrobe and makeup for this. It will take about an hour according to the site! From photos I have seen from other locations, everyone looks awesome after their transformations! My friends and I are going to be chaser zombies as opposed to stumbler zombies. As the name implies, chaser zombies run quickly to kill runners (aka steal their flag football belts) and stumbler zombies stumble out of the woods and other hiding places.

Apocalypse Party
Photo from the official RFYL Facebook page.

Tent set-up
Photo from the official RFYL Facebook page.

After the race, everyone joins together for the big celebration - the Apocalypse Party! There will be food, drinks, bands, etc for people ready to party way into the night. The event even encourages camping out at the party, so you can celebrate as late as you want. I am a little nervous about this aspect of it. I don't think I've ever actually camped in a tent. The closest I've come was at Girl Scout Camp when they had all the girls sleep in a giant field. We didn't even have tents then - we were just wrapped in tarp so the dew wouldn't cover us in the morning. Other than that I've always been in a cabin. Plus, it is supposed to rain this weekend! Eek! Yes, I might have a hard time transitioning from Disney Princess to zombie in less than a week! I'll do a recap on Monday to let everyone know how it went, so check back soon!

Zombie Bling!
Photo from the official RFYL Facebook page.

If anyone is interested, this race takes place in multiple locations around the United States. They add new locations all the time as well. Here are the current locations and dates:

Georgia 3/3/12

Massachusetts 5/5/12

Minnesota 6/2/12

Indiana 6/23/12

Colorado 7/14/12

Washington 8/4/12

Missouri 8/18/12

Pennsylvania 9/1/12

So Cal 10/20/12

Maryland 10/27/12

Texas 12/15/12

Let me know if you are signed up for this run or plan to do it in the future. Also, I welcome tips from those that have run a race with obstacles before! Or, if people have great ideas with what to pack for such a race and/or camping, please let me know!

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Bippity, Boppity, Boo - All About Disney Magic!

2012-03-01T07:00:00.005-05:00

Photo from here.

While at Walt Disney World for the runDisney Princess Half Marathon weekend, I decided that it would be really interesting to get the scoop about Disney from someone that knows it inside and out - the employees! Thankfully, Elizabeth James (I worked with her on The Vampire Diaries) is now an employee at Disney! She did an AMAZING job answering all my questions! She gives everything from tips for guests to Disney inside information! I know it's a little late for all of us princess runners, but we can always remember this advice for the 2013 Princess Half or remember it for all the fun runDisney events we are running between now and February 2013, right?! :o)

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Elizabeth
Photo from here.

What is your job title/position at Walt Disney World?

I am a part-time attractions host at Mickey’s Philharmagic and Prince Charming’s Royal Carousel in the Magic Kingdom.

How did your Disney journey begin (i.e. How did you hear about it?, What drew you to apply?, etc)?

I started my journey by doing the Disney College Program. I got to a point in my college career where I was unsure of what path I wanted to pursue, but when asked what I wanted to do when I was out of college every time I said “I want to work at Disney!” So I went online and applied for the program. I passed the web-based interview and I called to schedule my phone interview. I spent 30 minutes interviewing with a cast member and then the waiting game began. I finally found out I had been accepted and I accepted the offer immediately. It has been the best decision I could have possibly made for myself. I finally found my place and I fell in love with my very own prince charming during the program. I am living and working at the most magical place on earth....the stuff every girl dreams of, right?

If any readers are interested in job opportunities or even the college program you can go online to http://www.disneyjobs.com/ and look at EVERY opportunity they have. You might even see a familiar face on the college program site for Disney Parks and Resorts...

Can you please describe the application and audition process?

The process is very different depending on what you are applying for and if you are already a cast member vs. new hire. All of the information can be found on the website listed above. When applying you will need to complete an interview with a cast member. If they like you then you go on what is called a “skillcode” which is basically a big list that puts everyone in order for the job they want based on various factors such as seniority and the date you were placed on the waiting list. Casting then calls you and lets know that a position has opened up for you. When being placed on the list you are allowed to choose up to two roles and five different locations. You must be willing to work everything in the area within your role (for example if you prefer Fantasyland attractions you must be willing to work ANY of the attractions within Fantasyland). The cool thing with Disney is that everyone starts at basic park entry level jobs and ALL promotions are internal. So, even the Vice President of the Magic Kingdom started out as an attractions host (Haunted Mansion ticket taker on opening day October 1, 1971).

As for auditions you can go and check out the Disney auditions website http://www.disneyauditions.com/. It discusses everything from what to expect, what to wear, and even includes the audition calendar.

What are your job duties for Disney?

Our biggest job duty at Disney is safety for guests and cast members. After that our job is to make magic for our guests! It is my job as a cast member to go above and beyond to make our guests have the most magical vacation and help them create memories that will last a lifetime. It's the coolest job description you can ask for. It’s not all fun and games since I work attractions - occasionally I have to deal with bodily fluids or upset guests, but the positive out weighs the negative by a landslide.

If you could give Disney park guests some advice, what would it be?

PLAN! Make a list of attractions that you want to do. If you are traveling in a large group then let each person write out 2-4 things that they really want to do and then plan your days out accordingly. Go online and do your research - find out what has fastpasses and what attractions usually have the longest waits. Plan accordingly. Staying in the Disney resorts is usually a little more expensive than other off-property hotels, but Disney offers extra magic hours which allow resort guests to enter the park earlier or stay later than day guests. You can usually do several of the most popular attractions during this time with very short waits. Also try and go when it is not a peak season and on week days. Realistically if you are planning to go to Disney during the summer or the weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve, you should be prepared to wait in very long lines and for the parks to be very crowded so you will be able to accomplish much less than if you were to go during the slow season.

What has been your favorite Disney experience?

Honestly, I have so many memories that stick out. Some of them are from experiencing the park as a regular guests with my friends and family. Most of them are from interactions with guests that really touched me. Yes, I remember lots of situations with upset guests, but there are so many positive interactions that I have had with families that make my job worthwhile and genuinely fun to me. We are not supposed to touch guests, but I have had children and even parents hug me to thank me for doing something as small as replacing a lost fastpass. I remember names, faces, and stories more than guests realize.

What is your favorite Disney ride and why?

I’m torn by this question...I love Disney and all of the rides hold a special place and special memories. So, I am going to narrow it down to two: the first of which is Pirates of the Caribbean which is my family classic Disney attraction. It just amazes me how our Imagineers do everything they do and I think Pirates is a good show of how great they are at their jobs. My favorite thrill ride though - hands down - is Tower of Terror! I absolutely love it!

Who is your favorite Disney character and why?

Princess Belle is my favorite for sure! She is such a great role model for young girls and if more people were like her then the world would be a much better place. I mean just think about it - someone who is not interested in social status or what everyone thinks of her, but is just happy and determined to achieve her dreams and be herself! And, she is not caught up by outward appearance, but what is on the inside.

What is one thing Disney guests must do/experience while at Walt Disney World?

FANTASMIC!!! It is the nighttime entertainment at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and it is the most spectacular show! It is a lights/water show starring several of our most beloved Disney characters and some of the best songs from the classic movies! Everyone in the family will love it and it is the one show that no matter how many times I see it, it NEVER gets old!

What is your favorite thing about being an employee of Disney? Any benefits?

Being able to play in the parks as a guest as much as I want...for a Disney nerd like myself it is an absolute dream come true.

When is the best day to visit the parks in your opinion?

Go on a week day in mid-January or early February - just try to avoid holidays, holiday weekends, and the summer if you can.

Do you see yourself making a career as a Disney employee? If so, where do you see yourself in the future with Disney?

I would really like to try to become a Guest Relations cast member and then work my way up in to management. I definitely see Disney as my career path, but with so many roles and opportunities I don’t know where my journey will lead me, but I am excited to see what happens!

If you could have any position, what would your dream job at Disney be?

Well my dream job would be to be the President or Vice-President of the Magic Kingdom. I LOVE that park!! It truly is my kingdom and that would be the ultimate dream job...but more realistically for the near future I would really like to do Guest Relations or work my way up to management. There are just so many opportunities with Disney!

What is one little known Disney fact/treasure you can share with us?

I have a few...so I am going to make a lists:

- The best place to watch Wishes Nighttime Spectacular isn’t from in front of the castle...it’s actually standing in the middle of Fantasyland. It is less crowded and absolutely breathtaking because the fireworks are surrounding you.

- The Hollywood Tower of Terror is exactly 199 feet tall because at 200 feet it would have had to have an airplane beacon on top of it and that would have ruined the show.

- From Morocco in the Epcot World Showcase you can see the back of the Hollywood Tower of Terror, so they painted the ride so that it would blend in with Morocco....if you ever wondered why it was the color that it was.

- Prince Charming’s Regal Carousel was built in 1917 and in 1967 Disney acquired it and moved it from it’s home in New Jersey to Fantasyland (after giving it a new paint job and new life) It is also the largest carousel in North America.

- Also regarding the carousel, Prince Charming’s horse is there as well as the horse that he gave to Cinderella. Her horse is the only one on the carousel with a gold ribbon around it’s tail and it is directly to the inside of Prince Charming’s horse.

- The cars at the Tomorrowland Speedway are the original cars from when the attraction opened with the park in 1941 - they have just been modified and updated a little.

- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh was originally Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride and inside the attraction in Owl’s house there is actually a portrait of Mr. Toad handing over the deeds to the ride to Owl.

- The Living Seas at Epcot is large enough to hold the entire Epcot ball inside and there would still be enough room to drive the Disney bus around it.

- Ellen’s Universe of Energy is actually powered by 20% solar energy, making it the ONLY indoor attraction that can go down due to rain.

- When riding the People Mover in Tomorrowland you can see Walt’s original design for Epcot. It actually wasn’t supposed to house the World Showcase - that was supposed to be it’s own park. Epcot was supposed to be a community for the cast members. Then Disney realized how successful the Magic Kingdom was that they turned it into a theme park.

- Conservation was very important to Walt Disney and because of that 1/3 of the land owned by Disney World will never be developed. Instead it is used for conservation efforts. Disney has also only developed 1/3 of the land they own in Florida, so there is still a lot of room for growth.

- Disney also donated the portion of land used for I-4 to the state of Florida because they recognized the importance in guests being able to easily travel to the park.

What can you tell us about the Cinderella’s Castle Suite? I know every girl is probably dying to stay there!

I actually have not been fortunate enough to see the suite - many cast members haven’t. Everything I know is from what I have seen in pictures and been told by people who have been lucky enough to see it in person. It is absolutely breath taking! (Pictures can be found on Google) I am not entirely positive, but I don’t think that you can pay to stay in it. It is usually offered to VIP guests and other specially selected guests. When staying in the suite the family is provided a 24-hour butler since they are unable to leave the suite after the park has been closed for the evening, but believe me - I can’t believe that anyone would ever want to leave from what I have heard.

One of my Twitter followers wants to know – If Mickey’s a mouse, Donald’s a duck, and Pluto’s a dog, what’s Goofy? (He said it is a quote from the movie Stand By Me.)

Goofy is a dog!

From my friend Donna: What's something you would have never known about Disney if you hadn't started working there?

Honestly, I always knew that a lot went into running the parks and keeping everything looking so great, but I never fully realized how much goes on that guests don’t see. I can’t really share any of it, but just know that Disney has thought of almost everything and they are prepared. It’s really amazing!

What kind of training process did you go through?

Every role and every location have different training processes. It really just depends on where you are going and what you are doing as to what your training process will be like. But Disney does make sure to give each cast member all the information and tools they need to do their job to the best of their ability and to maintain a safe environment for our guests and cast members.

From my friend Jessica: How many different parks have you worked at? What have your jobs been?

I have only ever worked at Magic Kingdom as an attractions host, but I have worked at two different locations. When I was participating in the College Program I was placed at the Tomorrowland Indy Speedway, but once I was given a part-time opportunity I was moved to Fantasyland to work at Philharmagic and the Carousel. Some jobs have more flexibility for cast members to pick up shifts at other locations outside of essentially their "home location", but as an attractions cast member I am trained specifically for my attractions and can only work the ones I am trained at.

Are there any cool behind-the-scenes events you can share with us?

There really isn’t much I can share regarding this one. The only things that I can share are things that the company has chosen to make public and those can all be found online via Google. Sorry, guys!

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How cool was that?! I know we are all currently applying for jobs at Disney after reading this, right? Be sure to comment below with what your dream job at Disney would be! I wonder if every one's answers will be the same or different! I'd also like to thank Elizabeth for sharing some of her awesome knowledge with us! The girl seems to be very well educated in Disney - can't you see her climbing the ranks to her dream job in Guest Relations in no time? I sure can! Well, in the words of Disney...

Photo from here.

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Random Rhinestones: The Princess and the Gator

2012-02-29T07:00:00.006-05:00

I needed to come up with a name for short, random blog posts especially ones that might not have one overall theme. I decided on "Random Rhinestones", but feel free to leave a comment below with your ideas too!

On the way back from the runDisney Princess Half Marathon weekend (You can read those posts here, here, and here!), we missed our exit and had to take a different way home. On this new road, we found a little gem of a place called The Showcase of Citrus! It basically sums up everything you think about Florida into one place! There is a lot to do and the staff is very helpful.

First, I got to feed chickens. It was quite fun and it made me feel like Cinderella - farm style, of course.

Just call be the bird whisperer...

After, we wandered into the groves to pick some oranges. It was a fun time especially when I used the "orange picker" (I don't know its technical term...) to reach the high ones from the tops of the trees. I will admit that picking oranges is slightly harder than I imagined. They are stuck on there pretty good!

The "orange picker"
(you must say it in the squeaky toy voice from Toy Story like The CLLLLAAWW)

At the end of our journey, I got to hang out with my new friend! Meet Walter!:

He is a baby gator. Gators grow one foot every year until they are about 6-8 years old. Alligators never stop growing actually - they just grow less per year once they have reached a certain age.

Last but not least, you can go on a Eco-Tour/Swamp ride in this baby (below). We chose to shop and get back on the road instead, but it could be a lot of fun! The store sells organic honey, jams, strawberries, veggies, etc. We got some strawberries, oranges, and a homemade organic orange slushy.

I'm 5 feet 4 inches and the tire is as big as me!

If any of this sounds oh so wonderful to you, you can send someone a package of sunshine by clicking here. Or, click here for some yummy citrus recipes! These are perfect for spring/summer, no? Comment below and let me know if you ever journey off to road side stands. Have you found any good treasures this way?

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Girl Crush: Blake Lively

2012-02-28T07:00:00.001-05:00

Blake with Karl Lagerfeld of Chanel

Blake Lively has been taking Hollywood by storm recently! She currently plays New York socialite, Serena van der Woodsen on the hit show Gossip Girl, she is the face of Chanel and she is dating one of Hollywood's hottest actors, her Green Lantern co-star, Ryan Reynolds. But, I must say I loved Miss Lively way back when!

Blake on the set of Gossip Girl

Blake was born in 1987 into a family of actors. She actually grew up in acting classes because her parents took her to all of their classes instead of hiring a babysitter. While not into show biz at first, Blake's brother encouraged her to go on some auditions during the summer before her senior year. One of these auditions got her her breakout role in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. (Sidenote: If you haven't read the books, they are amazing! The final book came out last year - here is my brief review on the book/series.) Although her character, Bridget, wasn't my favorite of the four girls, I came out of the theater loving Blake! Two years later she got the role of Serena on the CW show, Gossip Girl. This role really catapulted her into the spotlight.

Blake in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

One of my favorite roles for Blake is her role as Krista in Ben Affleck's The Town. While the movie was fine, I thought Blake really shined. Her character was the complete opposite of the fashionista she plays on Gossip Girl. Fun story - I don't know where I read/saw this, but I heard that when Blake came in to read for the part of Krista, Ben asked her what part of Boston she was from after she had finished auditioning (Krista has a thick Boston accent). He had no idea she was born and raised in Southern California because she did so well. I love that story...

Blake as Krista in The Town

Blake is rocking this Target dress like it is Chanel, no?

Another thing I love about Blake is her fashion sense. Whether she is rocking Target or Chanel, the girl is always put together and gorgeous! She also has good taste in arm candy, am I right ladies?:

Blake with Penn Badgley

Blake with Leonardo DiCaprio

Blake with Ryan Reynolds

Overall, I don't know how you can't love Blake. Like the previous girls I have picked for these Girl Crush posts, she is confident, beautiful and classy. She stays out of the party scene and the tabloids for the most part. She seems to be a good role model for young girls and a fashion role model for young women. Her next project is Savages - an Oliver Stone movie starring John Travolta and Uma Thurman (Pulp Fiction reunion, anyone?!) I can't wait to see what she does next!

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This Isn't Sweat! It's Liquid Awesome!

2012-02-27T08:00:00.008-05:00

Dark and early Sunday morning was the 4th annual runDisney Princess Half Marathon at Walt Disney World! My mom, our family friends and I have been doing this runDisney race since 2010. I think the 3am wake up call is getting easier now...maybe!? The excitement for this race has been building for weeks especially after we completed the Tinkerbell Half Marathon in Disneyland earlier this year. I was ready to win my Coast to Coast medal!

This year, I ran as Princess Jasmine and Donna ran as Pocahontas. (Our moms ran/walked together too.) In past years, I stopped for EVERY photo op and character. This year I wanted to switch it up a bit and try to get a good time. I thought we had an awesome race! We ran the whole way except when we walked through water stations. There were two things that were really awesome to have. First, I grabbed one of these free helpful time chart wrist bands at the Expo. They were created by Clif. Although we didn't exactly make each mile time (I grabbed a wrist band for a 2:30 finishing time, but there were a lot of options.), it was still helpful to have so we could guestimate what our finishing time would be. The second thing that helped us get through the 13.1 miles was a pack of Clif Shot Bloks in Citrus that Donna brought. They were actually quite delicious!

Check out my photos below!

Donna and I have been friends for 11 years almost. We met freshman year of high school in homeroom. Here we are in our corral pre-race!

We made it to Cinderella's Castle!

Princess Minnie

After three years, I finally got a photo with Fairy Godmother! Dreams come true!

With my BLING!

During our last couple of miles, it started to rain and get windy. Thankfully, a nice man gave me a trash bag! They are warmer than one might think.

I am so excited to have my Coast to Coast medal! I also beat my 2011 Princess Half time by 40 minutes and my 2012 Tinkerbell Half time by 10 minutes! Crazy?! I am a little sad that its all over though. I might need to sign up for some new races ASAP! I don't know if it was the race, my first blogger meet-up, visiting Epcot after 8 years or being able to participate in the runDisney Social Media Meet-Up, but this was one of my most fun trips to date!

Now I am recovering in my CW-X compression pants because I have to get back in running shape by Saturday for the Run For Your Lives Zombie 5K! I am running twice - once as a runner and again as a volunteer zombie-chaser (in full zombie make up and clothes no less!) Princess to zombie in less than a week? I am quite the chameleon! I am sad to be leaving Disney tomorrow, but we have already started planning our 2013 trip for the 5th annual Princess Half Marathon Weekend February 22-24! See you there?

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PS. Running with Sass diaries her weekly workouts on her blog which helps her see what she has been doing each week (plus her mileage each week, month, and year!)! Carrie Underwood also swears by the food and exercise diary! I think that's a great idea, so I am going to start now:

Monday: 1 mile on 10 incline + weights

Tuesday: different exercise every hour

(definitely recommended if you sit at a desk all day like me!)

Wednesday: different exercise every hour

Thursday: rest

Friday: 2 miles with Jeff Galloway around Epcot...no big deal ;o)

Saturday: does walking around the parks count?!

Sunday: a measly 13.1 miles through Walt Disney World ;o)

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Best Dressed: Academy Awards

2012-02-26T22:30:00.000-05:00

It's that time again...my list for the Best Dressed at the Academy Awards. I actually have a long list tonight because the ladies brought it tonight! Be sure to comment below and let me know who you thought was the Best Dressed of the night especially if they aren't listed below!:

Cameron Diaz

Emma Stone
A lot of people hate the bow, but I think it keeps her dress on the "young" side!

Giuliana Rancic
If Giuliana was describing this dress on Fashion Police, she would definitely say it was TOTES AMAZEBALLS!

Gwyneth Paltrow
I think this dress is simple and gorgeous although - maybe it's because I am at Walk Disney World right now, but Cruela would totally rock this if it had spots, no?

Louise Roe
How pretty is this dress?! I love it!

Milla Jovocich
You know I love me some sparkles!

Octavia Spencer
Octavia has been rocking the red carpet this awards season, yes?

Stacy Keibler
This is another lovely lady that has been rocking the red carpet. This dress is really daring for the Oscars since one might confuse her with the awards themselves, but she has George - she can do no wrong. The dress kind of gives "Trophy Wife" to a literal meaning...

Tina Fey
I think this dress is old Hollywood and therefore it had to make my list.

And my favorite celeb look of the evening goes to...

...the one and only, Miss Piggy
Kermit and Miss Piggy are the only couple in Hollywood that could steal the show from Angelina and Brad. Plus, her dress, accessories, and hair are gorg!

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Disney Day 2: Epcot and Blogger Meet-Up

2012-02-26T16:58:00.002-05:00

We spent Saturday at Epcot. I haven't been to Epcot since Junior year of high school...so about 8 years! It has always been one of my favorites because I love being able to visit the different countries in the World Showcase. I was really surprised at how "empty" it was for a Disney park. Maybe all the kiddies were at Magic Kingdom? While there aren't as many rides at Epcot, there are tons of characters and it's educational (sorry, that was the teacher in me talking...and it's fun!)! The longest line we waited in was for the Viking ride at Norway actually. Other than that, we waited in about a ten minute line to meet and greet with the characters - except for Mickey - right when you enter Epcot, there is a character meet and greet station to meet Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, AND Pluto! We only had to wait in line for 30 minutes to meet all of them. I was blown away! I guess the area is pretty hidden unless you spot it or read your map! I definitely recommend it though.

We met Mickey and friends!

I love visiting the countries. We also played the Kim Possible Spy Mission that you can do around the World Showcase. We were really impressed with it. There are so many hidden treasures in each country we never would have seen otherwise! It's great for kids and adults.

My first time meeting Marie from Aristocats! She's so fluffy!

Princess Aurora gave me posing tips for my race as Princess Jasmine!

I had to meet Princess Jasmine and Aladdin!

This was one of the coolest things I've ever seen. In a Japan shop, you can "pick your pearl". If you pay $15, you can pick an oyster out of a tank.

They open it for you and each oyster contains a pearl. The lady we watched got a silver pearl in her oyster. There is only a 5% chance of that happening! Next, they clean and size it. You can take it home with you as is or place it in some lovely jewelry settings.

I had to stop and take a photo of this group's shirts because I have heard of a lot of people doing this - getting a drink or whatnot at each country in Epcot. This group was there for a friend's birthday. After seeing so many wedding parties, my mom thought it would be a cool idea to join the bachelor and bachelorette parties and do something like this so everyone can get to know each other before the big day! Great idea!

We had dinner at the French Bistro as recommended to us. It was so delicious. I had lobster bisque, macaroni & cheese, salmon and mashed potatoes (my mom and I split our meals) and this for dessert. They surprised me with Bonne Anniversaire - Happy Birthday in French!

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My First Blogger Meet-Up

At 3pm, we left Epcot and journeyed over to the Grand Floridian Hotel for my first ever blogger meet-up hosted by Running With Sass. The hotel is absolutely gorgeous and it has a view of Cinderella's Castle. No wonder people get married there and at the Wedding Pavillion next door! (We saw one when we arrived and it was beautiful!) My mom and I were discussing maybe staying there for the 5th Princess Half next year!

The lobby at the Grand Floridian

This is Janet Oberholtzer. She spoke with the group about her amazing and inspirational story about overcoming an extremely serious car accident injury (the lower part of her body was shattered and doctors thought she would lose her leg/not be able to walk) to running long distances again! I actually won an autographed copy of her book and cannot wait to begin reading it!

This is Janet's book - buy it here. I will do a review on it once I finish reading it!

The group of bloggers - their pages are listed below!

with Heather aka Running With Sass

Here are the blogger links from the meet up: Just Me and My Running Shoes, Running Toward the Prize, Who Me, Run?, Running at Disney, Shiawase Life, SportyMomme, Pumpkin to Princess, host Heather's Running with Sass, and Janet Oberholtzer's blog.

Check back Monday for my recap of the 2012 Disney Princess Half Marathon! Tonight I will be watching the Oscars, so check back for my fashion favs soon too!

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Hanging at the House of Mouse

2012-02-25T00:56:00.002-05:00

The poster I made for our hotel door. All the princesses are represented in some way! Can you name the movies from the drawings?

Today's post is Part One of my Princess Half Marathon Weekend Recap. For the past three years, my mom and I have been coming down to Walt Disney World in February with family friends to run the Princess Half Marathon. If you couldn't tell from this post, I promise you that no one does races like runDisney!

We weren't planning on getting into town until tonight, but our plans changed last week when my mom and I were chosen to be part of a special group that got to participate in the runDisney Social Media Meet Up. runDisney hosts a meet up during every race weekend - they try to make them all slightly different than the previous ones. How does one get chosen to participate in these meet ups you ask? Well, about a week before each race, Disney randomly posts the meet up details and instructions on how to participate. When that post pops up, you must be quick to email them your name. Later that day they will post a list of the winners and send out emails with more details.

I was extremely excited because even though I have done three runDisney races before, I never heard about the runDisney meet ups until January when I completed the Tinkerbell Half Marathon. I had to do it! Thanks to Facebook and Twitter, I knew what day and about what time the special blog post would be published! Now onto the good stuff...

We got to our hotel at 3am after driving 8 hours after work! We only got about two hours of sleep because we had to be at Epcot by 6:15am! It was all worth it, let me tell ya! When we got to the entrance of Epcot, Jeff Galloway, Rachel Booth, Suzy Favor Hamilton, Lori Lovell, and Betty Wong were there to greet us! We immediately split into two groups: 1) ran the two miles around Epcot or 2) ran/walked the two miles around Epcot according to/with Jeff Galloway.

Betty Wong, Suzy Favor Hamilton, Bob Hitchcock, Jeff Galloway, Rachel Booth

After the run, we all met at Biergarten Restaurant in the Germany part of Epcot. Once inside, we were greeted with princess tiaras and a delicious breakfast (coffee, juice, danishes, fruit, bagels, muffins and even cute little butters with Mickey's face on them!) As we ate, we were privileged to hear great advice and inspirational speeches from the runDisney guests.

Fellow Atlantian and Olympian Jeff Galloway
He was part of the 1972 Olympic team. He has written numerous books on running. He travels the country as a motivational speaker currently.

Rachel Booth

"The one thing I’ve always lived by is that if I don’t follow my dreams, how can I teach my children to do the same?" - Rachel

Rachel recently won the Disneyland Half Marathon (she has won twice). She also just finished the US Olympic Marathon Trials in Texas six weeks ago. If she wins the Princess Half Marathon this weekend, she will be the first to win bi-coastal races. Talk about a Coast to Coast Challenge, right?!

Suzy Favor Hamilton
Suzy is a three time US Olympian. She now travels the country doing motivational speeches on everything from training to her battle with depression. I must tell you that she did admit that the Princess Half is better than the Olympics! :o)

Betty Wong
She is the Editor-in-Chief of Fitness magazine. She has participated in a lot of races especially in NYC where she lives. She advised us to carb load today (two days before the race) - which I did...keep reading!

To add to the list of awesome surprises from runDisney, we also got a FREE pass to a Disney park of our choice! And we got to visit with these lovely ladies:

Princess Minnie

Snow White

Rapunzel

After the meet up, we went to the Princess Half Expo. It actually had a different layout this year which I liked. Packet pick-up and photo ops were separate from the vendors section of the Expo. I was disappointed to learn that there were princesses taking photos at the Expo in the afternoon. They weren't there in the morning when I went. Anyway, we got our shop on. I always have to stop at BeeCharms and get some more bling for my shoes. I picked up some more goodies along the way too like a magnet that says, "My sport is your sports punishment." I think that's so funny...yet true! ;o)

My royal carriage awaits!

The Expo was hopping!

Yay! I am almost done with the Coast to Coast Challenge 2012!

I had to get some dust from a fairy godmother!

Annual photo with the glass sneaker!

It is always fun to go down to Disney's Wide World of Sports at this time since our hometown team, the Atlanta Braves, have Spring Training right next to the Princess Half Expo! We always stop by:

Braves Spring Training

For dinner we met our family friends at Christini's Ristorante Italiano in Orlando (about 20 minutes away from our Disney hotel). This seemed to be the place to eat as there were cars lined up outside along the curb. I definitely recommend it. The food was delicious and they give all the ladies roses for no special reason! Plus, they were nice enough to surprise me with a birthday cannoli and a song from the accordion player. I chose to be serenaded with Volare. I love how the birthday month continues...

The birthday celebration continues!

Thanks for joining me on Day 1 at the House of Mouse! Now on to day two at Epcot tomorrow! Check back soon for details!

All About runDisney

2012-02-24T07:00:00.004-05:00

If you have read any of my previous posts then you might have heard me talk about runDisney and different races that take place at Disneyland and Walt Disney World throughout the year. I'm actually attending the Disney Princess Half Marathon weekend as this is posted in the morning. I have set the blog timer to post this right at the beginning of my meet-up with Olympian Jeff Galloway at EPCOT! Anyway, the runDisney races include:

Walt Disney World Marathon in January

Tinkerbell Half Marathon in January

Disney Princess Half Marathon in February

Expedition Everest Challenge in May

Disneyland Half Marathon in August

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10 Miler in September

Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon in November

There is truly nothing like a race at Disney, let me tell ya! On the course, they have volunteers, cheerleaders, musicians, DJs, Disney characters, acrobats, parade floats, etc. to help motivate you to the finish line! They even encourage family members to watch and cheer you on as part of the chEAR squad! How cute is that?! I love that at every mile they have a themed marker for a photo op and at the half miles they usually have character photo ops if permitted (at least at the Princess Half since it takes place completely on Disney property). Disney just knows how to put on a show...err, race!

The weekends usually begin with runners enjoying the Expo. The Expos at Disney are amazing. There are so many vendors and speakers. You even get sprinkled with pixie dust...yes, you heard right! The Expo is where you can buy official race merchandise, purchase last minute items, sign up for more races around the country, and get pumped up for the race on Sunday! At the Tinkerbell Half, I even got to preview some new shows for ABC (Missing and The River!) In between the Expo and the race, people usually visit one or more of the many Disney parks! A lot of people, such as myself, even visit the parks AFTER the race too! Surprisingly, I don't have to be pushed around in a wheelchair at this time! I also love that everyone wears their medals to the parks after. Its always fun when Mickey, Minnie, the other characters and the rest of the Disney cast congratulate me on my medal and a run well done!

If you plan on bringing the whole family along, runDisney usually does a 5K and kid's races as well on race weekend. The kid's races can include the Diaper Dash, a 100 meter dash, and a 1-miler and more. I have not participated or watched these events, but it always looks like they have a great turn out from all the medals I see around the parks and hotels. These races usually take place a day or two before the long race of the weekend.

Another awesome thing about runDisney is that they have the Disney Coast to Coast Challenge! If you run a runDisney race over 13.1 miles at Walt Disney World and Disneyland in the same calendar year, you receive a special medal. Taadaa:

I am really excited to be completing the runDisney Coast to Coast Challenge in 2012 by running the Tinkerbell Half (took place in January) and the Princess Half (this weekend!). Follow my blog, Facebook, and Twitter for updates during the Princess Half! Feel free to comment below if you have any questions regarding the runDisney races. Also, let me know of any fun races you have done because I am always down to try new things. I hear the Run Like A Diva and the Rock n' Roll Marathons are a lot of fun too!

If this post has inspired you to sign up for one of these amazing Disney races check out the website here. Remember to sign up early because they can fill up fast! And good luck!

And So My Birthday Month Comes To An End

2012-02-23T07:00:00.002-05:00

My birthday month of February has been amazing so far! Two weekends ago, my friend Donna and I had a joint birthday weekend extravaganza! Friday night we went bowling with some friends:

Birthday Girls!

Me and the guys!

Saturday night, we all went out to Fado Irish Pub in Buckhead. We had an awesome time out - I saw friends I haven't seen in months, Jessica got me a PINK strawberry banana smoothie cupcake (yum!) with trick candles, and Tilae got me a gorgeous "princess/girl's best friend" martini glass that I can't wait to drink out of (it has a rhinestoned stem!)! Overall, I just really enjoyed talking and dancing with everyone.

Tilae, me, David

Me and Donna
with strawberry banana smoothie & red velvet cupcakes!

Jenna and I

Birthday fun!

More birthday fun!

The glass Tilae got me! Bling, bling!

Sunday, we went to my friend Richie's place. A bunch of us went to see Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds in Safe House and then eat a delicious Italian dinner Richie cooked for us! Yum! Sidenote: The movie was good, but there was definitely not enough shirtless Ryan...even my guy friends were a little disappointed!

Valentine's Day was my actual birthday! At work, the whole office went for Mexican food for lunch. They also got me this awesome gift below! Wasn't that so nice of them?! And, they didn't even know the quote used to be my blog's profile picture on Facebook. ("Like" my blog page here if you love birthdays!)

Later that night, David made homemade lasagna -how we met...so romantical, no?! We ate a funfetti cake his cousins made me for my birthday as we watched Drive with Ryan Gosling. I don't recommend it on Valentine's Day...it got a little gory once people's heads started getting blown off. We also had heart shaped cinnamon rolls for breakfast the next day! Nom, nom, nom!

Isn't this cute? Each cousin made a different part of it - the roses, the writing, and the tiara/glass slipper sprinkles!

Everything tastes better in heart shaped form!

My valentine for David :o)

Friday, I surprised David with this (below) as seen on Pinterest. In typical guy form, he walked right by it and didn't even notice...oh, boys! All the better for me to ambush him with my Nerf gun, my dear!

Nerf Attack!

Then we had a YUMMY dinner at The Melting Pot! Even though I've only been there twice, I think it is one of my favorite restaurants - you get to cook your own food, eat fondue, and it has two of my favorite things to dip stuff in: cheese and chocolate! Plus, since I joined the Fondue Club when we celebrated our anniversary last year, I received chocolate covered strawberries for my birthday! Be jealous!

I am obsessed with chocolate covered strawberries!

But, David also brought these over too (below). Not what I need after a week of Valentine's Day candies and birthday cake! Alas, I am still excited it is Girl Scout Cookie season!

I decided to throw in a box of Sammoas although I'm a Thin Mint girl at heart. Chocolate is good for your heart and coconut is a fruit, right?!

Now, I'm off to the greatest place on Earth to finish my birthday month - Walt Disney World for the Disney Princess Half Marathon! My mom and I were specially chosen for the runDisney Social Media Meet Up with Olympian Jeff Galloway! We get to run two miles with Jeff through the Disney parks and then have a lovely chat about training and running! We even get runDisney shirts and some "special surprises" along the way! I cannot wait! Be sure to follow my blog, my Facebook, and my Twitter for instant posts about this weekend!

Check out this post on my last Disney run at Disneyland in January - the Tinkerbell Half. Plus, I've posted some of my favorite photos below - hilarious!

I can fly! I can fly! I can fly!

My New Exercise

2012-02-22T08:01:00.000-05:00

First, you must watch this! You'll grin ear to ear like me I'm sure! Everyone can thank my friend Corrinne (Check out her guest post on her New Year's Eve trip to Paris!) for showing this to me. It is from yesterday's episode of Ellen. How cute are they?! At first, I didn't want the rumors of them being a couple to be true, but now I might not mind it...maybe!:

Now onto my main post!:

Photo from here.

Recently, I have found a new exercise that I have come to love - walking on a treadmill with an incline. During one gym sesh, I started to cramp after about 2.5 miles. I decided to switch it up a bit and speed walk on an incline of 10 for the rest of the .6 miles I had planned. I was so shocked about how my legs felt running 2.5 miles compared to power walking the .6 of a mile on an incline! My legs were burning in just a half mile! Sometimes I just go straight into an incline walk now during my workouts. Because I could definitely feel the difference, I decided to do a little research to see if incline walk/runs are really better for you. According to Shape Magazine, I was right especially when you run!:

1. You burn more calories!

2. It helps prevent shin splints!

3. It will increase your endurance!

4. It will increase your speed!

5. Downhill is good for you too!

I can't wait for the weather to warm up, so I can take my new love for the incline to the trails! I really want to hike up Stone Mountain (below) with some friends and maybe even make a picnic out of it too. Dear spring, please get here soon!

Photo from here.

What is one of your favorite workouts these days? Let me know in the comments below!

Please follow me on Twitter and "like" my blog on Facebook if you enjoy reading this. Thanks!

Get Your (Spray) Tan On!

2012-02-21T08:01:00.000-05:00

Two weeks ago, I did something I was really scared to do - I got a spray tan! I know there are people out there that are scared of spray tans too because they don't want to look like this:

YIKES!
Photo from here.

But, fear not! I have lived to tell the tale! When I told my sister I was going to write this post, she asked why I wasn't going to write about tanning beds as well. This is my reason - my chemistry teacher sophomore year of high school told us that if we learned only one thing in her class that it should be to NEVER use a tanning bed because they are worse than laying out in the sun. Plus, we've all seen the tanning scene in I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, right?! I have always taken this advice to heart since its the only thing I learned in chemistry class (jk!), but don't get me wrong I do enjoy a good day at the beach/pool! I know even sun tanning is bad for you, which brings me to the...

spray tan!

My mom journeyed with me to get a spray tan two weeks ago. We were both really nervous, but I wanted to get a practice one the week of my birthday to try it out before the runDisney Princess Half Marathon. I am dressing as Princess Jasmine and didn't want people to confuse me with the light reflectors along the highway/race path. Know what I mean, jelly bean? Before going to the salon, I showered off and exfoliated - this is VERY important because why get a spray tan on dead skin cells?! We went to a local place that has tanning beds as well as spray tans. I went first because my mom was too nervous. I was taken to a private room to be airbrushed (airbrushing is when someone sprays you by hand instead of a machine). You can wear as many or as little clothes as you wish - whatever makes you comfortable. It takes about 10 minutes. Then I had to wait a few minutes to air dry off. After being sprayed, I could already see some color, but the color forms gradually over time. I couldn't get wet for at least 10 hours to help the tan reach its darkest color. Remember this when planning your spray tan appointment. I recommend getting it done at night, so your 10 hours can be while you watch tv, read, sleep, etc. I must admit that this was hard for me as someone who is basically OCD about showering every night! Alas, I survived.

...in all my birthday/spray tan glory!
See, no orange!

When I woke up the next morning, my mom and I could not get over how tan we were! Plus, I was excited to finally be able to shower :o) I will say that even after the shower (use conditioner instead of body soap and no exfoliating!) my skin still had the slight smell of spray tan solution. Another "negative" (I use this term loosely since I was very happy with my tan!) was that I wouldn't say my tan was completely even because my arm pits weren't tan and my hand had a slight line on it. I didn't think these were too noticeable anyway though. My mom quickly reminded me that even when you are laying out by the pool, it is hard to get an overall perfect tan. So true, so true. The last downside to spray tans are that they only last about 4-10 days depending on your skin. They are great for a special event/occasion though - wedding, prom, school photos, etc!

I know people have their own preferences with how they tan, but I just wanted to write this post telling you that I back spray tans 100% - plus, they don't cause wrinkles or skin cancer! Always a good thing! I don't think my tan has fully disappeared everywhere yet, so I'm nervous to get one Wednesday night for the Princess Half unless I exfoliate like crazy. I'll let you know though!

Photo from here.

Also, on the topic of spray tans - for metro-Atlanta residents, Q100 and The Bert Show are collecting formal dresses at all The Avenue locations around Atlanta this week. Dresses will be cleaned and sold at inexpensive prices at their Gown Town event. All money from Gown Town goes directly to the Atlanta Children's Shelter! How cool is that? In addition, for every dress you donate, you receive a voucher for a FREE spray tan at Solar Dimensions. Just drop your dresses off at the management office.

What kind of tanning do you prefer? Let me know in the comments below!

Please follow me on Twitter and "like" my blog on Facebook if you enjoyed this post! Thanks!

Extra, Extra! Read All About It!

2012-02-20T10:14:00.000-05:00

This issue is on sale now.
Photo from here.

One of my favorite things about Atlanta is that it has been nicknamed the Hollywood of the South. Movies like Zombieland, The Blind Side, Remember the Titans, etc have been filmed here. Recently, I have started to take advantage of this. As you might have read in this post, I have been an extra for a show called The Vampire Diaries (Thursdays at 8pm EST on The CW). I have been in about five episodes so far. Below I share some information on what it is like to be an extra:

First, I would like to stress that if you don't love "movie magic" then you should not apply. Being an extra is a lot of work, so if you are just doing it to fawn over the actors you love then I wouldn't recommend it for three reasons - 1. You can never guarantee which actors will be working that day, 2. I have had call times at 6am (so I had to wake up around 4am) and I've had 14 hour days on set. If you don't love it for what it is then it can get boring fast, 3. You aren't allowed to bother the actors or take photos on set (people have been removed and banned for doing this).

Photo is from here.

If what I just told you doesn't scare you away then get prepared for fun! A typical day as an extra goes like this:

First, I get an email from casting asking if I am available on a certain day. One must be available ALL day as they cannot predict how long shooting will take. If available, I let them know and they send me an email back with instructions and details such as call time (when I must be on set), scene details (so I know what clothes to bring if wardrobe isn't provided), location (sometimes we film at the sound stage and sometimes we film outside at different locations), etc. On the actual day of work, I have to park, be chauffeured to set, and checked in by the call time given. At this time, the wardrobe department will check my clothes to make sure they work on camera (dark clothes are better than bright clothes) or give me clothes to wear if it is a special scene (school carnival, formal dance, etc.)

Photo is from here.

Next, I do a lot of waiting. I usually like to make friends or bring a good book to read because there is a lot of down time in holding (where extras hang out when we aren't filming on set). One of the perks of being an extra is that they supply a ton of snacks - water, lemonade, animal crackers, fruit, candy, gum, chips, granola bars, etc are always available. Meals are also provided at certain times- chicken, pasta, fish, salad, chocolate cake, cookies, bread, cereal, eggs, bacon, danishes, etc. No wonder actors have to workout a lot (and their food is even better than ours!).

Once they are ready to film, extras are called onto set. At this time, each person is given something to do. Groups are placed in certain areas, some individuals are given a path to walk, etc. The actors will run through their lines a couple times and then filming begins. When the director says "background", extras do whatever they were told to do previously - dance, fake talk, walk a certain path, etc. They will do multiple takes of a scene and then break down the camera equipment, set it up in a different spot, and film the scene again from another angle. This is when it can begin to get tiring if you don't love being there like I do. Once that scene is complete, they will set up the cameras for another scene (while the extras are in holding). Once they are ready, extras are called back in and the process starts all over again. The more scenes you do, the more actors you will probably be able to see. And, like I said before, this can last anywhere from 4 hours to 14 hours. I've gotten off set before at 6am!

Photo is from here.

While it is a lot of work, it can still be a lot of fun if you are there for the right reasons. I have enjoyed seeing one of my favorite shows from behind-the-scenes. I've loved getting to be on the different sets (Mystic Grill and the Salvatore mansion) on a sound stage and seeing some "vampire stunts" performed. For a fan of the show, its also fun to hear some spoilers (although you aren't allowed to share them obviously!). I've also gotten to wear wardrobe provided which feels special too. My favorite experiences have been having my photo on the Entertainment Weekly website (below) and getting to tell Nina Dobrev's character, Elena, "Happy Birthday" in a scene and have her say "Thanks!" back (even though that take didn't make the actual episode). And while all of that is great, I know I come there to work and be professional (i.e. follow the rules, not complain, I don't leave before being wrapped, etc.)

I'm peeking around the cabinet on the left :o)
Photo from here.
(This was the day I had to wake up at 4am after getting home the Britney Spears concert at midnight = dedication!)

I hope you enjoyed reading what it is like to be an extra for The Vampire Diaries. Comment below if you have any specific questions. I'd also love to hear about your own stories working with film if you have any - from what I hear through other extras, the experience is always different from show to show (supposedly The Vampire Diaries treats their extras the best!). And, yes extras do get paid. That is probably the number one question I get asked by people :o)

Be sure to follow me on Twitter and "Like" me on Facebook if you enjoyed reading this post. Thanks!

What About The Princes?

2012-02-17T10:00:00.001-05:00

My sister has given me some blog requests that I actually think are pretty good ideas. For example, I have a lot of posts regarding my Operation: Princess Pen Pal project, but I don't have a post on any of the princes! Check out my post below on ten princes from the United Kingdom to Dubai.

Prince William

Prince William is 29 years old. He is the eldest son of Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana. He will probably end up becoming King one day as he is only behind his father in the line for the throne. In 2011, he married one of my favorite people in the whole world, Kate Middleton whom he has dated for almost a decade. He currently works for the Royal Air Force as a pilot in the Search and Rescue Force. He enjoys water polo, soccer, polo and hunting. He is very involved in different humanitarian causes, which was probably passed down from his mother.

Prince Harry

Prince Harry is Prince William's younger brother. He is only two years younger than William and they are very close. Unlike William, instead of enrolling in college, he joined the military immediately after his gap year in Australia. His military career seems to be very important to Harry as he does not ask for special treatment - he even went to Afghanistan. However, he was pulled out after a little over a month due to safety reasons after details were published in an Australian magazine. Harry is considered the "wild child" and this nickname is reflected in the lady friends he chooses to date such as Chelsy Davy (aka hot mess express). I'm hoping he one day changes his ways and ends up with a lovely gal a la Kate Middleton. I would just like to state for the record that I am still available for this position, Harry...

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum of Dubai

Sheikh Hamdan, 29, grew up in Dubai and continued his schooling in the United Kingdom. In his free time, he loves to ride horses, write poetry and skydive. I can't find much about him in English, but from the photos on this Facebook page it looks like his loves his outdoor activities. He is also a big family man - his family seems to be extremely close. According to multiple sites, he became engaged to his cousin, H. H. Sheika Sheika bin Saeed bint Thani Al Maktoum, in 2008. None of these websites seemed reliable though. I didn't find any official confirmation or any information on a wedding. From this, I assume he is currently single, ladies.

Prince Azim of Brunei

Prince Azim, 29, is the 3rd in line to the Brunei throne. He is also one of the most popular family members especially with paparazzi. Like the previous princes discussed, Prince Azim continued his schooling in the United Kingdom. He is most notorious for dropping out of Sandhurst and for his parties. Past party guests have included Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson and Mariah Carey. While he spends a lot of money on parties, he is also known for his generosity toward numerous charities.

Prince Carl Philip of Sweden

Prince Carl Philip, 32, is the brother of Swedish princesses Victoria and Madeleine (I wrote to both of them, but I only heard back from Princess Madeleine.) Like his sister, he also lived in the United States for a while (he attended a small private school in Connecticut as well as Rhode Island School of Design). In his free time, he enjoys skiing, racing cars, and swimming. The prince has supposedly been dating Swedish model, Sofia Hellqvist although it seems a photo of the two together is rare.

Andrea Casiraghi

Andrea is the eldest son of Princess Caroline and the grandson of the late Princess Grace (LOVE her!). If his uncle, Prince Albert II, doesn't have any children then Andrea will be next up for the throne of Monaco. His father died in a boating accident in 1990. Soon after, Princess Caroline moved her children to France to keep away from the media. Although he grew up in France, he also attended school in Canada, the United States and Spain. He still attends official events in Monaco though. He also travels to different countries to perform charitable duties. In his spare time, he enjoys race car driving, sports and horses. In addition, he has be linked to girls all around the world including a Colombian socialite and a Spanish actress.

Prince Philippos of Greece

Prince Philippos of Greece is the son of King Constantine of Greece and Queen Anne-Marie of Denmark. While his family lost the throne before he was even born, they were able to keep their titles. Like some other royals, Prince Philippos came to the United States for school (He attended Georgetown from 2004-2008) and moved to New York City shortly after graduating. His hobbies include soccer, roller blading and music.

Prince Philip of Disneyland

Prince Philip is an easygoing yet brave royal. He enjoys riding horses, dancing and slaying dragons. He is actually the first Disney prince to use weapons against an enemy (thanks to the fairies that delivered his shield and sword). He is my favorite Disney prince in that he is the most athletic, he loves to dance/sing, and he can take on dark creatures (although I would rather train dragons than kill them ;o)

Hope you enjoyed my list. There are plenty other princes all around the world. Let me know who your favorite prince is in the comments below!

Also, don't forget to follow me on Twitter and "like" me on Facebook if you enjoy reading this blog! Thanks!

DIY: How To Make An Earring Tree

2012-02-16T07:50:00.000-05:00

What is an earring tree, you ask?

The earring tree I made my friend Jenna for her college graduation!

My friend Jenna literally has accessories for every outfit and occasion. I wish I would be like her, but I'm not. Instead, I use my creative juices to help her organize her accessories a la creating an earring tree! Before I gave her this craft as a graduation present, Jenna would hang her earrings on a white t-shirt on a hanger. It did the job, but it was not cute. I thought I could help her out in that department. Below are my directions on how I made the above earring tree. I'm very impressed with this craft because I created it all on my own and I think its pretty Pinterest-worthy if I do say so myself!:

What you will need:

window screen

spray paint

newspaper

decorations

hot glue gun

safety pin

ribbon

(I got all supplies from Home Depot and Michael's)

Directions:

Place window screen on newspaper in an open area for air circulation.

Pop out the middle window screen bar if there is one.

Spray paint the top and corners of the screen.

Before the paint dries, take the safely pin and "pop" any paint bubbles that might be blocking the small screen holes. (This happens if you spray too much in a certain section.)

Once dry, add your decorations using a hot glue gun. (I bought these pre-decorated letters and "crystal" flowers from Michael's.)

Attach the ribbon if you plan to hang your earring tree. (The screen I bought had two hooks which made it simple to tie the ribbon and hang.)

Helpful Tips:

The screen is the most expensive item. They came in a package of two for about $30. I recommend going in with a friend or making two friends an earring tree each. (I think the second screen is still in our garage from 2009!)

If you want a smaller earring tree, you can use the screen and staple it onto another boarder such as a small picture frame or canvas border.

And waalaa -

Presenting my friend Jenna with her new earring tree. She was very excited. It is probably my most thoughtful and creative gift to date.

Let me know if you make an earring tree in the comments below. Be sure to show me photos on how you "make it your own" with decorations!

Fan Mail Challenge

2012-02-15T10:03:00.001-05:00

Every morning on my way to work I listen to The Bert Show on Q100 (It also plays in Indy and Nashville). Today, they decided to start an intern challenge and see how many interns could write letters to celebrities and get responses. This challenge has my name all over it! I took their lists of celebs and narrowed them down a bit to people I actually want a response from. Plus, I added my own list at the bottom. Check them out below:

BERT’S CELEBRITIES
Taylor Lautner

Ryan Gosling

Ryan Reynolds

Robert Pattinson

Mila Kunis

Justin Timberlake

Kristin Stewart

Reese Witherspoon

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Emma Stone

JEFF’S CELEBRITIES

Ellen Degeneres

Michelle Obama

Ryan Seacrest

JENN’S CELEBRITIES

Giuliana Rancic

Kelly Ripa

KRISTIN’S CELEBRITIES

Sarah Jessica Parker

Beyonce

Channing Tatum

Jennifer Aniston

Brad Pitt

Charlize Theron

Tina Fey

Kate Winslet

WENDY’S CELEBRITIES

~~Kate Middleton~~ <--(got one!)

Britney Spears

Lady Gaga

Taylor Swift

Sandra Bullock

MY CELEBRITIES

Kourtney Kardashian

Khloe Kardashian

Blake Lively

Leighton Meester

Alexandra Chando

Matt Lanter

Selena Gomez

Ashley Tisdale

Emma Watson

Holly Madison

Bridget Marquardt

Bert from The Bert Show

Brittany Snow

Brody Jenner

Candice Accola

Lauren Conrad

Lo Bosworth

Lea Michele

Nina Dobrev

The first step will be to find all of these addresses - that will take a while! Then, writing handwritten letters takes forever. It took me 3 days to write letters to all of the princesses with Operation: Princess Pen Pal! I'll keep you posted on my progress. Off to buy a ton of stationary! Let me know if there is someone I should add in the comments below!

Crazy, Cupid, Love

2012-02-14T08:00:00.002-05:00

Today is my birthday, so I will be lovey dovey if I want to! I'm a hopeless romantic, so I thought I would celebrate Valentine's Day on my blog by writing about my top 15 favorite fictional couples from pop culture. My sister suggested this post and I think it is a really great idea. So, lets begin (in no particular order...):

Romeo and Juliet

Jim and Pam from The Office

"The boat was actually Plan C. The church was Plan B and Plan A was marrying her a long, long time ago. Pretty much the day I met her." - Jim

Carrie and Mr. Big from Sex and the City

"After a while, you just want to be with the one that makes you laugh." - Mr. Big

Mickey and Minnie Mouse

Lily and Marshall from How I Met Your Mother

"We're Mr. and Mrs. Awesome."

David and Donna from 90210

Jack and Rose from Titanic

Noah and Allie from The Notebook

"So it's not gonna be easy. It's gonna be really hard. We're gonna have to work at this every day, but I want to do that because I want you. I want all of you, forever, you and me, every day. Will you do something for me, please? Just picture your life for me? 30 years from now, 40 years from now? What's it look like? If it's with him, go. Go! I lost you once, I think I can do it again. If I thought that's what you really wanted. But don't you take the easy way out. " - Noah

Ken and Barbie

Joe and Kathleen from You've Got Mail

"What will NY152 say today, I wonder. I turn on my computer. I wait impatiently as it connects. I go online, and my breath catches in my chest until I hear three little words: You've got mail. I hear nothing. Not even a sound on the streets of New York, just the beating of my own heart. I have mail. From you." - Kathleen

Edward and Bella from Twilight

"No measure of time with you will be long enough. But let's start with forever." - Edward

Pacey and Joey from Dawson's Creek

"You know, for a bright girl, you can be really daft sometimes. Why do you think I came here? I came here to be with you! It's as simple as that. I mean, when you like somebody, proximity is a good thing, regardless of how they feel about you. Or don't, as the case may be." - Pacey

Jackie and Hyde from That 70's Show

Jacob and Hannah from Crazy, Stupid, Love

Christian and Satine from Moulin Rouge!

"Come what may, I will love you until my dying day."

Tell me your favorite fictional couple in the comments below! And have a wonderful Valentine's Day!

Grammys Fashion

2012-02-13T11:12:00.000-05:00

The Grammy's aired last night and as usual I love the fashion the most. The Grammy Awards fashion is always a little more crazy when compared to other award shows. It kind of throws me off a bit during the middle of awards season. Below I have posted my favorite looks of the night. My fashion fav might surprise you!

Adele

Carrie Underwood

Miranda Lambert

Alicia Keys

Kelly Rowland

Kelly Osbourne

Kate Beckinsale

Giuliana Rancic

Nancy O'Dell

Kathy Griffin is actually my best dressed for the night! I think the dress fits her body well. I love the one shoulder. I also think her hair looks great too! Believe me I am as surprised as you are by this pick, but Kathy definitely got an A from me for her red carpet look. (Although I can't tell if her dress has stains or its just the photo...)

Little Sophia Grace got to go to the Grammys! I'm sure she just screamed and screamed. I love the Ellen plug by the way...
Check out her YouTube video here if you haven't seen her singing Nicki Minaj's Super Bass. She also got to meet her on Ellen here.

Who is your pick for Best Dressed of the evening? Let me know in the comments below. Also, I must mention that I did actually love Fergie's outfit except that it was see-through, but the orange lace was gorgeous. Now on to the Oscars in a few weeks!

Friday Favorites

2012-02-10T14:06:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday! I have been waiting for today since I woke up Tuesday morning and thought it was the weekend. No lie. This weekend, my friend Yoga In Heels and I are having a birthday weekend extravaganza! I'll give you an update on Monday. Happy weekend! Tell me if you have weekend or Valentine's Day plans in the comments below!

How cute is this proposal!? I'm assuming he asked the others riding in the boat to hold these and proposed when the girl saw the photo at the booth. Too bad shes making the worst face ever, but this is still awesome!

This is so sad and funny at the same time. Poor bunny...

I've always wanted a chair like this...perfect for reading, no?

Awesome party dress!

I don't know where this is, but it is absolutely gorgeous.

Some people might think this is really messy, but I actually love this hairstyle.

How cool is this?! The fries are cookies. The hamburgers are: bread = cupcakes, burger = brownies and the condiments are frostings.

Yes, please.

Where is this heaven?! Tub, view and chocolate covered strawberries?! It was made for me.

I never thought these words would come out of my mouth, but this is PINK OVERLOAD!

This is great! I want this in poster form.

This is really, really cute and creative.

This is awesome!

Strawberries and Cream Bruschetta...I need to make this!

This Or That?

2012-02-09T08:07:00.000-05:00

photo from here.

I saw this on the Elle & Blair website and thought it would be fun. Let me know your answers in the comments below. Also, it might be fun to make up your own too!

Coke or Pepsi? Definitely Pepsi! It tastes better, but I actually can't remember the last time I had any soda. I'm trying to be good ;o)

Ice cream or frozen yogurt? Before I would have said ice cream especially Baskin Robins (yum!), but now that all these awesome frozen yogurt places are popping up I am in love! How can you not love picking your flavors and toppings without having to pay for them individually?!

Clothes or makeup? Makeup! I think most people could wear a paper bag and still look good with the right makeup...I think there is a princess story about that actually. Yep! Here it is. Its not about her wearing makeup, just a paper bag.

Hairspray or frizz lotion? Hairspray, but I don't really like product in my hair anyway.

T.V or book? This is a toughy because I love both so much. Yes, they are like my children and I love them both the same :o)

Pool or beach? Pool! Ocean water is so gross, sandy, and salty. Not that I don't love ocean creatures and beach vacations, I just prefer not to have sand in my suit. You are swimming in fish pee and dead bodies from the Titanic might I remind you...

Water or soda? Water with lemon...or sweet tea!

Sandals or boots? Sandals in the spring/summer; boots in the fall/winter.

Purse or backpack? Backpacks! I miss them. It is nice having a pack on your back to have your hands free...like kangaroos but backwards.

Team Jacob or Team Edward? Team Edward! I have this theory that everyone that reads this books are Team Edward and everyone that just sees the movies are Team Jacob. I have yet to be proven wrong!

Wizards of Waverly Place or Hannah Montana? Wizards - Selena is my girl!

Mall or online shopping? Mall! I love trying things on. There are so many times that I change my mind about buying something in the store because it doesn't fit right or I don't love it. Plus you know how much you are spending when you see the cashier ring the items up and you hand over your money as opposed to buying online.

Tennis or soccer? I played soccer as a kid, but I'd love to get into tennis now...hmm...this is a toughy! It is like asking me - Andy Roddick or David Beckham. Don't make me choose!

MAC or Maybelline? Maybelline all the way! The only makeup products I use that aren't from a drugstore are my Clinique foundation and my Too Faced Natural eye palette.

Tag. You're it, bloggers! Your turn.

Inspiration Boards

2012-02-08T08:04:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone! The year is already 1/12th of the way over. Can you believe it?! How are your resolutions holding up from the beginning of the year? One cool way to keep resolutions at the front of your mind is to create an Inspiration Board. An Inspiration Board is just a collage of photos and quotes that represent your goals in some way for the year (or week, month, etc). You can hang it in your room, on the refrigerator or even make it the background on your phone or computer screen. I came across this idea from Bridget Marquardt of The Girls Next Door fame. She mentions Inspiration Boards on Twitter all the time. I'm not sure if she is using hers the same way as I have described above (since as far as I know, she has not posted a photo or described it other than mentioning it by name), but either way I credit her for this awesome idea!

Below is a photo of my Inspiration Board for this year. One thing I think is cool about Inspiration Boards is that they are what you make them. If someone else saw my board, they might just think its a random collage. The photos are like secret messages just for me! One thing I wish I had added to my board are some quotes. Thankfully, I made this with Paint software and it printed with a boarder, so I can easily add extra quotes and photos throughout the year.

My 2012 Inspiration Board!

See! Doesn't it look like a random collage unless you know what the photos mean to me? For example, the Kate Middleton photo represents class and beauty. The Emma Watson photo represents education (because she is studying at Brown/Oxford University and played Hermione Granger - classic book nerd). What would you put on your Inspiration Board? Let me know if you plan to make one in the comments below!

Happy Hunger Games...

2012-02-07T08:09:00.000-05:00

...And may the odds be ever in your favor!

If you haven't been living under a rock these days then you've probably heard about some books called The Hunger Games trilogy. I was first introduced to these books while student teaching. The students just could not put them down! I finally got a hold of them this past December and finished them all in a couple weeks. The first book is definitely my favorite! Although they are made for young adults and have a lot of violence, they also have an interesting theme of what happens when government gets too big and controlling.

I won't tell you what happens in the second and third book so as not to give away any spoilers of the first book. I will give you a brief synopsis of the book to try to sell it to you though ;o)

The books take place in the United States in the future. The United States as we know it was destroyed by natural disasters and rebellion. Now there are 12 "Districts" left around the country. Each one has a niche - seafood, mining, electronics, agriculture, etc. These Districts are controlled by the President in the Capitol, a giant city in the Rocky Mountains. President Snow rules the country (now called Panem) with an iron fist. To protect the country against another rebellion, he makes sure everyone knows who is in charge. One way he does this is by having the Hunger Games every year.

Each year, one boy and one girl ages 12 through 18 are chosen to represent each District in the Hunger Games as "tributes". The Hunger Games are kind of a big deal. There are stylists, sponsors, etc for each of the different District tributes. The teens must fight to the death in a specially constructed arena in order the protect themselves. Anything goes in the arena - there are even some surprises that the Game makers throw in. The last person standing is the winner of the Hunger Games and as a reward is given a new house and an unlimited supply of food. It is also their job to train the tributes from their District in future Hunger Games.

If this plot doesn't sound interesting enough then check out the trailer for the movie that comes out in March! It will do a better job at peaking your interest in the books I'm sure:

It looks good, doesn't it?! Plus it has some good cast members - Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Elizabeth Banks, Woody Harrelson, Donald Sutherland, and Lenny Kravitz. Comment below and tell me if you would read the books or see the movie. If you have already read them, what do you think?

Great Commercials With Hot Guys Playing Football Inbetween

2012-02-06T09:41:00.001-05:00

Not only was the Super Bowl an amazing football game last night (down to the last second! Go Giants!), but there were also some really cute commercials as usual. I have posted my Top 5 favorite ads from last night below! Check them out!:

What were some of your favorite commercials of the night? Did you happen to catch the Puppy Bowl on Animal Planet? Dogs seemed to be the biggest trend this year in the Super Bowl ads, no? And Adriana Lima.

Friday Favorites

2012-02-03T08:08:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday everyone! I don't really have any weekend plans except to watch the Superbowl and eat yummy foods on Sunday, but the weekend is always a good thing to look forward to no matter what! Do you have any fun things planned for this weekend? Let me know in the comments below and enjoy my Friday Favorites:

basically...

true story.

where is this magical place?!

a birthday room!

You can't go wrong with pink cake pops!

I can't wait to see The Vow!

These e-cards always make me laugh!

I saw this on Lauren Conrad's blog...umm AMAZING!

Elle and Blair Fowler
I randomly saw this photo online...paparazzi style!

Emerald Lake, Canada - I will find you one day

too cute!

This is EXACTLY what I want my future bedroom to look like!

This is so adorable for a child's room

I love Mean Girls...and Channing!

Hawaii, I will get to you one day!

Hot chocolate cookies! I must find the recipe to this ASAP!

I iz so cute, no?!

This is like monkey bread, but minus the chocolate, so I assume its "healthier", right?!

I love this look. Although pink is my favorite color, you would think it was navy if you looked in my closet.

Yep, this is how it goes.

Freeze carrots, toys, treats, etc in an ice block to keep your pup entertained. I must do this in the summer!

I never thought I would post a rat on my blog, but this is down right adorable!

This looks so peaceful. It just needs some swans like in The Notebook...and Noah of course.

Savannah. I die.

My sister's cat is doing this right now. No lie.

This photo is AMAZING!

This is really cute. My grandmother would probably LOVE this.

Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming.

I must make this if it cannot be purchased anywhere. Harry Potter fans unite!

My First Blog Award

2012-02-02T08:04:00.000-05:00

Last Monday, my friend Pam over at Yes it is, Kevin nominated me for a blog award - The Versatile Blogger. I have never received a blog nom before, so I am super excited! Now, as part of the nomination, I have to spill 7 random facts about myself. But, before I get to that go check out Pam's blog! She writes a ton of awesome posts about beauty products, fashion, her weekend adventures, etc. I wish I had an ounce of her style and fashion know how, let me tell ya! Her 7 random facts are also really interesting too. I'm not even going to pretend to compete with them.

So, now on to my random facts:

1. I went sky diving my senior year of high school. It was fun, but I don't think its worth the hype. Bucket list checked off though!

2. I am OBSESSED with my blog. I constantly check it, write posts for it, think about it, talk about it...

"Hello, I am a blogger and I have a problem."

3. I want to try out for the Atlanta Falcons Cheerleaders - auditions are at the end of April 2012!

4. I want to do something awesome in life in some way, shape or form. I don't want to be insignificant.

5. I want a love like Johnny & June, Lily & Marshall, Jim & Pam, Allie & Noah, Rose & Jack...you get the point...until the end of time.

6. If I could be anything in the world, I would be an entertainer like Taylor Swift...with Britney's dance moves, of course.

My girls!

7. I honestly think I have slight hoarding tendencies (I don't think my family would object to this statement.), and I hope this isn't my future:

Would you rather be a hoarder or a crazy cat lady? Actually, I think there was a cat hoarding guy on one episode...

Well that was harder than it looked! I tried to come up with things I don't mention every two seconds on here. Now, I get to nominate some people:

And the nominees are...drum roll, please...

Day Old News

Confessions of a 20 Something

The Bargain Blonde

Elle & Blair

Lauren Conrad

Please comment below with some of your favorite blogs! I'm just obsessed with them in general. I could spend hours catching up on people's blogs. PS. Happy birthday month to me!