Disney Kid

Growing up, I was what you would call a Disney Kid. I lived for all things Disney. Short films, feature films, toys, stuffed animals, clothes, and best of all... trips to Disneyland! When I reminisce about my childhood, chances are the particular memory I am recalling has something to do with Disney. Going to Disneyland triggers some sort of magical childhood nostalgia. That was the case when I went for my birthday last year anyway. As Mike and I were leaving the park after a fun-filled day, I pleaded with him to stop in a gift shop. Mike is not really into Disneyland to begin with, but he had been a sport all day. I practically skipped into the shop as Mike dragged his feet behind me.

Immediately upon entering the shop, my gaze fell upon the wall of dvds. As I scanned the covers, I kept getting this strange feeling. I kept experiencing this tightness in my chest. It was... nostalgia. I realized that I KNEW these cartoons from my childhood. Every cover set off another memory. Mike and I had agreed that as part of my birthday gift, I would bring home 2 dvds. All these memories were flooding in at once... how could I pick just 2? 20 minutes and one annoyed husband later, I made my decision. I chose the ones that I remembered most vividly from my childhood: Mickey and the Beanstalk & The Tortoise and the Hare.

image via amazon.com

image via amazon.com

image via amazon.com

image via amazon.com

image via amazon.com

image via amazon.com

Ever since rediscovering those key elements of my happy childhood, I've been on a mission to collect all of them. Maybe I should correct my first statement... I AM a Disney Kid. Maybe it's not Mike's thing, but he already knows that our kids (and grand kids) will be Disney Kids too :)

Californiaaaaaaa

4 months after leaving California, I go back and forth between missing home and accepting that Illinois is my "home" for the next 3 years. Today is one of those missing home days.. like reeeaaallllllyyy missing home! Something tells me that listening to Phantom Planet's "California" while browsing through my favorite pictures from CA isn't helping any with my homesickness..

At my favorite place on Earth (DISNEYLAND)

View of the ocean on my wedding day

Beautiful San Diego sunrise viewed from my deck


One of the many gorgeous parks I used to take the girls I nannied (being away from CA also means I don't get to see the girls as they're growing up and that breaks my heart)


Our clothing for Fall in California.. much different than Illinois

Standard foot wear in Ca pretty much year-round

I promise I am trying to cope instead of letting nostalgia get the best of me. I can see the bright side of living in the mid-west during Fall. I actually get to see what seasons are all about! I get to see the leaves change.. then the trees go bare.. then comes the snow (but I'll worry about that when the time comes). It's about time this Cali Girl gets schooled in real seasons. It will be a pleasant change to visit a pumpkin patch in chilly weather (not 90+ degrees like in CA the past couple of years). I look forward to swaddling myself in sweaters and having my very first real winter coat. Bring it on, Illinois.. I can take it!