I think I've almost used up all the princess band-aids Sarah gave me when I first came here... I keep cutting up my feet or getting bug bites on my legs that I avoid scratching by putting band-aids on them. I wore my old sneaker-converse shoes to get groceries today and I tore a big chunk of skin off of left ankle.. But it doesn't hurt, so.. yay.
I've taken for granted the simple pleasure of walking to the store to buy groceries. And the act of buying groceries... it's fun to go into Publix and know what I want and check out all the deals.. haha. It's especially excellent when the bill is less than $50.00 (when usually it's over $100.00) and when you can shove a bunch of the groceries in your backpack and only have to carry two bags. (Makes the walk back much easier!)
My mom sent me some really good tea too from the Farmer's Market (Thanks, Mom!) so I'm trying to use that as long as it lasts..
And Derrick sent me a surprise: (I absolutely couldn't love him more <3)
I went to Give Kids the World on Wednesday and I had two of the sweetest kids from North Carolina named Olivia (10) and Isaac (8). They were so cute! Isaac told jokes and Olivia sang, she even sang Somewhere Over the Rainbow in the 'Village Idol' that we had where kids showcased their talents. And I got her autograph! We had pizza and the volunteers got cake (with M&M icing) while the kids had pudding. And we got to run around and play in the 'castle'. And there was a joke-telling troll named 'Tom' that spoke to the kids and I don't know how they did it.. he was really Disney real. And they had dress-up clothes and stars all over the ceiling. And everything in the "village" was made to look like cookies or big sundae stores or kitchens in the shape of cupcakes. The families get to stay there all expenses paid which is really neat and the kids told me all about going to the parks and Seaworld and everything. Really great. It surprised me when one of my roommates said she could never do it because they're kids who are terminally ill - they really are the sweetest kids and you forget that they're there for a reason.
Tomorrow I think I am going to Beaches and Cream after work for hamburgers and shakes.. and then I have Monday and Tuesday off.. which I think will be my last days off before I go home. And I work 9AM until 9PM on Friday the 28th because of Food and Wine.. so, that'll be a long day.
13 days until I get to come home to visit!!
"This month I want to go to Florida Mall to go shopping... I want to go to Ghirardelli for ice cream or, alternatively, Beaches and Cream to try "The Kitchen Sink" - which is like 22 scoops of ice cream, two bananas, brownies, sprinkles, angel food cake, a can of whip cream... etc.. I want to go to Panera more for breakfast and lunch and smoothies.. I want to go to Carrabbas with Lee one time... I want to go to DisneyQuest... I want to go to "girls" at least once to see what it's like... I want to eat at Le Cellier and at China one time.. I want to make a passport around the World Showcase and eat a crepe in France.. I want to go to Universal Studios... I guess a lot of these things are just things I want to do before I leave."
Halfway through the month and I have:
- Gone to Florida Mall (though I want to go at least once more)
- Gone to Beaches and Cream to try the Kitchen Sink
- Went to Panera again as well as a really yummy smoothie place
- Ate at China (Orange chicken and rice with my new chopsticks!)
- Gone around the World Showcase and actually seen everything
As well as:
-Gone to Magic Kingdom (have to go back to see the full Wishes fireworks show)
-Give Kids the World (today)
-Tried a Turkey Leg (famous in the states, but gross... although I got it for free so yay!)
So, even if I were to leave today, I could say that I have done a lot of things I wanted to. I feel suddenly accomplished. And there's only more to do.. so, hopefully it's all good.
The Kitchen Sink (enough said!)
Ashley, Me and JenEight flavors of ice cream, brownies, angel food cake, whipped cream, sprinkles, chocolate chips, cherries, oreos, mars bars, banana slices, hot fudge... AND YES, it's in a sink.
Florida Mall and Cheesecake
I had a really fun day today. The first of my three days off - Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
First I went to Florida Mall with Ashley from Merchandise, who is sooo sweet. She told me all about her boyfriend and her life back home. It was really nice.
I saw M&M World and am definitely planning a trip back there... when I come home I'm going to need another suitcase just for M&Ms, I swear. I didn't get any this time... unfortunately.
However, Florida Mall is huge and beautiful. I got fall clothes for when I come home from Aeropostale. So cute. And a wallet from Roxy with a koi fish on it... because I needed a new wallet. And.. oh, at aeropostale, I got a free duffel bag because I spent a certain amount, so, sweetness. And, I also got a couple of mix and match shirts from Sirens, which looked really nice and that were 2 for $10, so excellent. And most of the stuff at Aeropostale was 50% off.
Anyway, then we checked out some salon stuff for Ashley and her hair (because she needs it dyed again..) and then went to the Food Court where they had free samples of this amazing basil garlic chicken stuff.. so good. And we had lunch, then continued shopping. We found this one really neat store called Adrenalina (see pic) which had a flowrider in it for surfing, a tree, brick wall, biking stuff, surfing stuff... everything! So cool.
Then... we got starbucks (which we both said made us homesick for our friends, which we used to come to starbucks religiously with) and caught the bus home. Later we decided to go to Publix together and I had Helena (my french roommate) tag along so we could buy cake for her birthday. Haha, and I finally caved and bought dishwasher detergent for the dishwasher, because, after 3 days of having none and watching the dishes pile higher in the sink and get dirtier in the dishwasher, it was enough. I guess no one else cared that much. Oh well, I told them they'd have to all pay me a dollar... which won't happen, but whatevs. I think mostly it's the principle of the thing. At least I know that if I lived on my own or whatever I'd be capable.
In any case, we came back to the apartment and invited Ashley over for cheesecake. So, she came over and we played cards and helped Helena set up her phone and we talked and laughed. It was fun. Then I walked Ashley home to her apartment (28 - like.. the other side of the world in the Commons since we're 5) and we stopped and talked some more and it was really great. We are both homesick and wanting to go home sooner. So she is wonderful to relate to.
Then, I came home. Tomorrow I may try to go to Give Kids the World, but we'll see... it's one of my to-do items.
Also, no one has really told me about gifts, so... do it. I won't bite, I promise.
Gifts
Hey all,
Since I plan an early return... and my shopping time will be the days off that I can get before I leave.. I'd like to know what you'd all like as souvenirs from Walt Disney.
For example, got a favourite character, favourite disney princess? A favourite store? A favourite park? How about a favourite country? - maybe a cute umbrella from France or some German chocolate??
If you don't tell me what you want you aren't getting anything, suckers!
(So please please please let me know so I can bring back oodles of gifts.)
- PS: The attraction is going fine.. mediocre. I went to a throw-out tonight, which is just when people leave and give away all their junk. I got some crazy old dvds.. but wasn't too eventful overall. I have an apartment inspection on thursday... which I'm hoping to pass with marvelousness... My roommate, Helena from France, turned 20 on the 3rd and went skydiving today. I saw her dvd of it, which was so cool... makes me want to go next month when she goes. Also... Kayla, one of my friends from Attractions, is leaving on Thursday so I'm sad because she's really nice and was only here for three months and I could totally relate to her. But oh well.. These things happen.
Ashley, Me and Jen
