Trip Plans!

My sister and I had a trip planned to the Oregon coast in late September, but because of some personal things that happened this year, neither of us were excited about going, at least, not right now.

Instead, we took a crazy leap and switched the plane tickets to Orange County, CA.

Photo Credit: Undercover Tourist

Yes, we are going to Disneyland in August! 

I understand, the world has a lot going on right now.

But it is Disneyland's 70th anniversary and the park is awash with that theme, and we wanted to do something undeniably fun. Plus, there are 2 Star Wars rides that weren't there the last time we went (it has been a LOOOOOOONG TIME), and there's also the glorious redesign of the log flume ride to Tiana'a Bayou Adventure, which I am so excited about!

At the end of the day, people do need to do what is best for them and their mental health. It is important to care about events going on in the world, and to even donate to causes we care about, but those events should not encompass our every waking moment if we are not living them.

This year is a journey of self-discovery. So much has changed in my personal life, but I am starting to feel emotionally healthier than I have been for quite some time. 

One of the reasons is ditching social media. No, I am not unaware of world events, but I don't feel the need to be on a social platform other than my blog. As of now, this is the only place where people can find me. And it is a relief to have it that way. 

Another reason is being selfish with my time. I say selfish, but is it really?  Doing what I want to do in the time allotted to me outside of work should not be considered a selfish act. I have given myself permission to say no to people when they ask things that are an imposition and do not benefit me. It means that I have stepped back from people who have been a burden on me mentally and physically. And while that was a difficult decision to make, it was necessary. I still care about these people, but I have no desire to see them.

Instead, it's a Disneyland trip with my sister a.k.a best friend in August where we won't be staying on property but will be within a 5 minute walk of the park entrances. We have our tickets, a lunch reservation to the Blue Bayou Restaurant in the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, and plans to just love every moment of our time there. It will be an immersive getaway, and is something we both need!

Lastly, I am choosing to focus on things I love and leave the other things alone. You can walk away, and in fact, more people should. I'm happy and content with the things that I love and I do not have to defend or explain them to anyone else. Just as I don't require others to defend their loves to me. It's time to live and let live more than I have in the past.

Remember to take care of yourselves and do the things you love. Disney here I come!

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Disneyland Memories - Market House General Store

Photo Credit: Davelandweb

I absolutely loved this general store/coffee shop on Main Street in Disneyland before it became a Starbucks. I remember how fun it was as a teen and young adult to actually buy coffees and teas that were different, not something you would regularly purchase at a franchise. There was a cinnamon tea latte that was magnificent and I usually ended up drinking at least two whenever we visited the park.

This was back when Disneyland actually felt more small town. You would walk into Market Street and it was an unbranded coffee shop, just like you might find in any other little town in America. Well, I say unbranded, but I do believe the treats you bought were definitely Disneyfied!

I don't remember the wait being all that long, but of course, this was more than 10 years ago the last time I had a non-Starbucks Market House drink. But it was charming to just be in the store and relax and wait for your drink.

Now, I'm not knocking Starbucks. I have been known on many occasions to love me a caramel macchiato from Starbucks, and I actually like how their drinks taste, with that strong bitter note at the end. To each their own, I guess. So know that I do really enjoy Starbucks specialty coffees. I just get tired of waiting in endless lines in Disney and Starbucks, unfortunately, created just another crazy long line, losing a lot of the original Market House charm.

Photo Credit: Davelandweb

I miss Market House the way it was. Because it was something special that you could only get in Disney, both the drink offerings and the overall store experience. The Cinnamon Tea Latte was under $3, which you will never find in a coffee franchise now, ever.

Oh my gosh, I seem to be remembering this incredible cookie that they served too, although I can't find proof of it online so it may be my memory malfunctioning. It was just always a really nice way to start your Disneyland experience, stopping in on Main Street before venturing onto any of the rides. 

And let me just say that all the adorable home decor and kitchen items were just so much fun to browse through. I loved that part of it; having the barrels of goods lining the walls and counters. There was just so much to look at and enjoy.

If you want a walk down memory lane, I recommend checking out this article from the Touring Plans website. It's ideal for the super nostalgic or curious, including a snapshot of the Market House menu and its pricing. And there's also Davelandweb, with so many amazing photos of Market House through the years. That's been a lot of fun to browse through.

A lot can change in 12 years, but Market House the way it was will always hold a special place in my heart.

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Star Wars Commentary on Rogue One and Andor

Felicity Jones as Jyn Erso from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

All right, people—let’s talk briefly about Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

I get it. Star Wars is now this sprawling universe filled with all kinds of characters and stories. But let’s be honest—most of these stories don’t really align with each other. Rogue One and the so-called “hit” series Andor (and yes, I’m using “hit” loosely here) feel like they exist in completely different realities.

To me, Andor is like the Star Trek reboot movies—a total schism from the original franchise. Sure, people love them, but they don’t fit. And that’s fine, I guess. It happened. It’s too late to undo it—for both Star Wars and Star Trek.

But here’s where things get different: with Andor, I’ve noticed a complete lack of respect for what came before—from both fans and the director. Love Andor all you want. If you’re Tony Gilroy, be proud of the series you created. If you’re a fan, obsess over it to your heart’s content. No one’s stopping you.

Because this is my opinion blog, meaning my personal opinion, I require polite discourse. You have been invited to my table, in my home, which I own. Behave accordingly. If you harass me in any way, I will delete your comment.

What’s not okay is the way some people are actively trying to diminish the value of Rogue One within the Star Wars franchise.

I was there—an adult—when Rogue One hit theaters nine years ago. It was a revelation. Nothing that good had come out of Star Wars since the original trilogy. The film was praised for its gritty, emotional story and stellar performances. Felicity Jones brought real depth to Jyn Erso, and Diego Luna was excellent as Cassian Andor.

Those are facts. You can’t rewrite them.

And here’s the thing: dark and depressing doesn’t automatically equal “gritty.” If you’re into a show about politics and fascism (gee, wonder why that’s on everyone’s mind right now?), go for it. But I have issues with Andor not just because of its bleak tone, but because it rewrites Cassian’s backstory. They aged him up. They made him a liar in Rogue One. They even changed his home planet. Why?

That kind of revisionism is unacceptable. And honestly, I get strong narcissist vibes from Tony Gilroy, so maybe it makes sense—he just did what he wanted. Maybe Andor is good. But I’ll never know, because the attitude of the director and the fanbase completely turned me off. And once that happens, there’s no going back.

What I do know is this: Rogue One is not, and never will be, “the worst episode of Andor,” no matter what some snarky fans claim. Instead, as I see it, Andor is that weird offshoot in its own corner, like those Star Trek reboots, that just doens't fit with the story and written canon.

Rogue One isn’t Cassian’s story.

It’s Jyn Erso’s story. It’s about her family and their role in the creation—and destruction—of the first Death Star. Real fans of the original Star Wars saga see Rogue One as a powerful, worthy addition. This is Felicity Jones’ movie. Diego Luna just happened to be in it. And Jyn Erso is one of the strongest female leads in the franchise.

It’s a shame Tony Gilroy, who also worked on Rogue One which just baffles me, chose to undermine something great just to boost his own series and rewrite canon. Explain to me why he is attempting to erase Jyn Erso, a brilliant female lead? And it's almost worse of a shame that Disney is attempting to rewrite history by the new Rogue One poster on Disney+ featuring Cassian first.

The below is what the actual original poster from 2016 looks like, with Jyn correctly as the lead.

And here we have Disney's quickly reimagined poster, presumably to placate Andor fans.

Disney needs to take a hard look at how it manages continuity. They were in charge when Rogue One was made, and they’re still in charge now. The disconnect between Rogue One and Andor is on them. They should’ve stopped Tony Gilroy before he even picked up his red pen.

Because this is my opinion blog, meaning my personal opinion, I require polite discourse. You have been invited to my table, in my home, which I own. Behave accordingly. If you harass me in any way, I will delete your comment.

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Honest Mini Review of Poppi - Orange Cream Soda flavor

I should have known better than to buy something just because it’s hyped up. Maybe it’s just the Orange Cream soda flavor—but wow, yuck. It has this sharp, acidic kick that lingers in your mouth, followed by a sickeningly sweet aftertaste.

After finally reading the can (which I definitely should have done first), I realized the acidic bite comes from apple cider vinegar—like in Kombucha, another vinegar-based drink I’m not a fan of. And that overly sweet aftertaste? Stevia. Another hard pass for me.

I get it—this soda is supposed to be “healthy,” packed with prebiotics and other good-for-you ingredients. That’s great in theory, but if it tastes awful, I’m not going to force myself to drink it. I don’t eat Brussels sprouts for the same reason!

Maybe this kind of drink works for some people, but if you’re already happy with diet soda or zero-sugar options, I say stick with those. At least they taste decent—at least, according to my taste buds. Add prebiotics another way to your diet.

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Planning a Disney World trip in 2027 - DW Resorts Part One

Our last Disney trip was in January 2019. It's incredible that by the time we go again, we'll have made it almost a decade without a Disney theme park! I didn't post much about that last trip, but we did have a fabulous afternoon tea experience in Epcot which you can read about here!

Starting Point

Where are we going to stay?

I have stayed on Disney property twice, once in Florida and once in California and I am now addicted to the convenience and pampering. I travel for the luxury and fun of it, and that does mean staying in hotels or AirBnBs that are convenient in their location and in their amenities.

I looked into AirBnBs near Disney World. And there are some nice ones. But I want to literally be flooded with Disney the entire time I'm there, and most of these AirBnBs do not have a Disney theme. Which I get, I mean, people are in Orlando for many different reasons so you don't want to just cater to one theme park. That would be ridiculous. If I were there visiting family (if I had any in Orlando) or there for work (wow, that would be interesting), then I would not be needing or really wanting a Disney themed room to stay in. 

But I'm not going for work or to visit family. I am going for the glorious magic that Walt Disney created with his imagination and the franchise born out of it.

Soooooooooo, with that said, we are staying at a Disney resort in Orlando.

Last time we stayed at The Art of Animation and the The Little Mermaid themed room was super adorable! We loved it. We had to walk what felt like a mile to get to our room but it was so fun to be on Disney property.

Resorts in the Running

Photo Credit: Me

Possible Resort #1: Revisiting Art of Animation

We could very easily stay at the Art of Animation again. I mean, we enjoyed it the last time. It kept up that immersive experience that I'm in love with. And, let's be honest, it is less expensive than their moderate level resort hotels, so it's got that going for it. The only thing I'm not in love with is the walking.

Downside: Disney no longer offers the Magical Express which was a complimentary shuttle and luggage service to and from the airport and the Disney World resorts. I mean, it was fabulous. We handed our luggage off in Colorado and didn't see it again until we arrived IN OUR HOTEL ROOM. So that's a major bummer that it was discontinued in 2022. Knowing we would have to trek to our room in Art of Animation with our luggage is a point against this resort now because there is ZERO fun in that.

The staff and amenities, however, were amazing. It was so cute how the staff rearranged our stuffed animals on the beds every day (yes, we buy Disney stuffed animals at the parks and it's the only way to live!). So fun. There were even massage chairs for our poor exhausted legs in the lobby area so we always stopped there after a day in the parks to massage out the pain before heading to our room. And the dining area for breakfast was convenient. So there were definite perks which is why it's still in the running.

Photo Credit: WDW Magazine

Possible Resort #2: Port Orleans Riverside - Royal Guest Room

I'm a little bit of a "go big or go home" sort of gal. And the moment I heard about this room, I knew it was destined for my bucket list. Remember how I said I love immersive experiences? This is that and then some! I want to be awash in Disney the moment I step on the property!

The argument I've heard against staying in one of these types of rooms is that you don't spend much time in them. I get that. I do. But my goal with this trip is that we will stay 6 or 7 nights. Which means we will have more than enough time to enjoy the parks and also enjoy time at the resort, swimming in one of the pools, and just unwinding with character experiences at different restaurants at the different resorts. We didn't stay long enough last time so we were exhausted x 10, and I do not want a repeat!

If we want to go to a park, there's the complimentary bus service, and if we want to go to Disney Springs, we take the water taxi. There's even an opportunity to book a horse drawn excursion which just sounds so lovely!

So, right now I'm heavily leaning in this direction just because it's a room we haven't stayed in and it's the room of my dreams!

Photo Credit: Trip Advisor

Possible Resort #3: Grand Floridian

This one is just a whimsical, if-only sort of stay. If I had an endless supply of funds, I would book at the Grand Floridian, but for a normal income family, it's a no-go. I'm really just adding it here because it's so beautiful. It's not quite the immersive experience as the other rooms I've mentioned, but it sure is decadent and lovely.

Going with a Travel Agent

I've decided to do something this time around that I've never done before . . . go through a travel agent for this Disney trip. I've already reached out to a company who I think will be fantastic, and I'm already in talks with our travel agent who seems nice and quite knowledgeable. 

I know this may be our last major trip to Disney which is why I want to splurge, and why I want to have as many character experiences and luxuries as possible within my budget. And I know having a travel agent will be super helpful in that arena because they can get us discounts and deals, even after we've booked everything, which is amazing.

I won't name the Travel Agent company until after we've taken the trip, so we've got a few years to go, but when the time comes, I know that I can count on this person to book the room of our dreams at hopefully the best price we can get. It helps that we're flexible about when in 2027 we're going. It would be fun to go near our birthdays, but if we can get a better deal and have more of the new areas open, like Monstropolis Land which should be opening in 2027 and which I do not want to miss, that would be awesome.

Circling back around to the main topic, I am going to do everything in my power and finances to book us a Royal Guest Room in Port Orleans Riverside. But if that doesn't work out and just isn't affordable enough for my budget, we'll go with Art of Animation, a completely worthwhile and charming resort that is the right level of immersive for my crazy.

Look forward to more updates as I continue the planning and talking out phase of the trip!

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False Claims about the War in Ukraine

See this Fact Check article regarding false and misleading claims being made about Ukraine.

Below are some of the most common false claims about Ukraine that have been disproven by simple fact checking and are listed on the above website.

• President Zelenskyy's approval rating, according to official surveys is somewhere between 57% and 63%, not the 4% that Elon Musk and President Trump both claimed. He is not hated by his country like rumors like to indicate.
• Watchdog organizations and people in charge of tracking US funds given to Ukraine can prove that pretty much all monetary aid is present and accounted for.
• By Ukrainian law, elections cannot be held while martial law is in place. This law predates Zelenskyy and while martial law is in place, legally, elections cannot be held. Additionally, there is now a diaspora of Ukrainians who should be able to vote in elections but are now displaced globally.
• Ukraine did not start the war. I agree wholeheartedly with Mike Pence on this one.

Anyone who knows me, knows how I voted in this last election. But I voted with serious reservations because of this very concern related to Ukraine. There were other, crucial, reasons, why I voted the way I did, but I knew there was a potential for things to go sideways with Ukraine. And we're starting to see that.

To say that I'm concerned would be an understatement. I expect my government, regardless of the party in charge, to provide factual information and to not perpetuate misinformation or disinformation. And there almost seems a vendetta against Ukraine and President Zelenskyy that I, personally, find distasteful, especially since a quick fact check through a reputable company like FactCheck.Org can easily disprove that misinformation.

I don't talk politics often because I find it an unpleasant topic, but with the 3 year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine just behind us and the pro-Russian sentiment growing in the US, I couldn't just stay silent.

Don't just take information presented as fact at face value. Check it. Be responsible.

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Jane Austen Decor Collection at Michaels!

My dresser of Austen decor, a trunk that's part of the collection, and the Jane Austen book boxes.

Ok, so if I found out about this after the fact, I would be super upset, which is why I'm sharing about the collection while there might still be some in stock at your closest Michaels store and online!

As any self-respecting Jane Austen fan knows, this year is Jane Austen's 250th birthday, and while I cannot be in England this December for all of the amazingly fabulous celebrations that will be taking place, I can actually revere her in other ways, including my decor.

I've loved Austen since my teen years when my father, of all people, introduced me to her work through the Olivier/Garson film adaptation of Pride & Prejudice (read my rave review)! It was the start of an eternal friendship with the great authoress which even includes one random theatrical experience playing Charlotte Lucas in a local musical back in 2012 (crazy to think of it being so long ago!).

But enough of my reminiscing, let me return to the Jane Austen collection at Michaels!

Here, my friends, you can find the English Romance collection of decor options, but really, it is Austen inspired and you'll see why in a second.

Jane Austen Wall Art

This Jane Austen literary wall art piece really is gorgeous and I absolutely purchased one for myself. It's not huge at 12" x 15" and works quite well in my rather miniscule bedroom. The colors are soft and romantic and I love that the book stack includes Northanger Abbey, one of my personal favorites!

Jane Austen Persuasion Book Vase

I am sorely tempted to order this book vase while they still have stock online since it appears to be sold out in stores. Persuasion is my other favorite of Austen's novels and I would love to add this to my collection!

Gold Bird Tabletop Decor

While not strictly Austen, I couldn't resist purchasing one of the smaller size golden birds. I love the pedestal that it's perched on, the gold tone, and just everything about it!

Floral Wall Cubby

Again, not Austen in the strictest sense, but I had to have this fabulous wall cubby! My golden bird is perched on the middle shelf as we speak! It goes perfectly when paired with the book stack literature wall art.

And finally, these are Jane Austen book boxes that are 5.25" long! And the reason I don't have a link for them is because they are in store only! I found all but Pride and Prejudice, no surprise there, and I have them neatly stacked on my bedside table with a peacock ambiance lamp perched on top. It's just the perfect look!

I highly encourage browsing through the collection online and if you live near a Michaels store, head there post haste before everything is sold out!

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