The Franklin Update: Disney

Showing posts with label Disney. Show all posts

Thursday, May 24, 2012

My Decal Family Update

Re-post from Nov. 2010 - after I added the cat.

It was time to replace the decals on my van (Poor Russell had lost his head) and I thought about this original post. Guess who I did NOT have to replace - AGAIN????!!!! It has now been almost 6 years and everyone else has been replaced six times.......

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I thought I would share with you the latest addition to our Disney Decal Family. And I figured you would enjoy having another good laugh at my expense!

You know it's official when I put the cat in Mickey ears on the van!!! How cute is that? It just makes me giggle!

A fun story to go with my decals - I am NOT a sticker person when it comes to cars. I even make the dealers take their advertisement stickers off whenever I purchase a new (to us) vehicle. I like my cars to be clean and tidy. Then 4 years ago at Christmas, my brother Marc gives me these 4 little Disney people to put on my van. He knows how I am - but he also knew they were wearing Mickey Ears! How could I resist? I screamed with delight, giggled hysterically and they have been on my van ever since. This is actually my fourth or fifth set - I've lost count. After several months, they begin to peel off and I replace them with new ones. All except the Princess one (Anne) - she's original! They don't even make her any more! She, for some strange reason, has never peeled, never cracked. I take the other three off, replace them, and she stays the same. I guess it's just because it's Anne. Ha! Although I will admit (and I can't believe I am doing so) that it is something I have prayed about. I like the Princess sticker so much, and knowing they don't make this one anymore - I don't want to replace her with the little girl. So I am guilty of asking the Lord to keep her in tact. I know, I know - it sounds ridiculous. But I have found that even the ridiculously small things that are important to us - are important to the Lord as well. Not because they are important - but because I am important. So - I have learned to pray about the little ridiculous things as well as the big things that are important to Him.

So - it's funny when I say that I am NOT a sticker person when it comes to cars. Seems I say a lot of things about myself like that and then God changes my heart and mind in some way. "I'm not an animal person, I'm not a sticker person." Ugh! Have you seen the side of my van lately? Maybe I'm out of control.......

Friday, March 30, 2012

ApParent Project at EPCOT

Most of you know that Disney is my absolute FAVORITE place to go! We have had passes for several years and spend many weekends at "The Happiest Place on Earth". If you have ever been to my house, you know that there are many hidden (and not so hidden) Mickey's around. If you have been over and tried on AP jewelry in my dining room, you probably have looked at yourself in my favorite mirror.

Most people don't even realize it's Mickey Mouse. I love it!

The week after I left Haiti, Shelley received an order from Disney for 1000 pieces of jewelry. She was blown away and I was totally impressed and excited for her. We didn't know exactly where it would wind up but someone posted on her FB page that they had seen it at EPCOT. It's time for their annual Flower and Garden Festival.

I receive emails each morning of all the different Disney blogs published each day (I told you I'm a Disney nut - you have to keep up with all that is going on!) and yesterday they sent me this:

Visit the Haiti Garden of Many Colors

And it just so happened that my friend Christie - who lives in Orlando - was headed to EPCOT yesterday so she went on the hunt for it. She sent me these photos -

How cool is that?????

Haiti has it's very own place in the EPCOT World Showcase right in between Germany and the African Outpost! And ApParent Project jewelry is on sale there. It makes me so happy!

Now - this makes my husband happy -

Haitian Coffee! Also on sale at EPCOT. I brought some home for Russ and he is totally hooked on it! He's been searching the internet (with no luck) trying to figure out how to get more of it here in the states. Christie picked up a few for him and shipped it today. Russ will be in coffee bliss - at least until this runs out.

It's been 2 years since we've been to Disney. I know, I know - it's shocking to us too! We've just had too many other expenses to justify renewing our passes. I so wish I could go see all of this in person, but for now I am thankful for friends who go for me, take pictures and buy coffee!

On a similar note - this kind of exposure is increasing the demand on AP jewelry. They are having to hire more Haitians to keep up - which is a good thing! When I was there in February, Shelley had 200 on payroll. She has a goal to have 1000 on payroll by the end of 2012. This is not impossible considering the recent exposure. Jillian Michaels (Biggest Looser) is adopting a child from Haiti and stopped by AP a few weeks ago. She has over 1 million fans on FB and gave a huge plug for AP jewelry parties just last week. The fund raiser bracelets are taking off and they are having a hard time keeping up with demand.

All of that being said - they are in GREAT need of cereal boxes! Shelley posted the other night that they were close to temporary layoffs of the artisans if they didn't get boxes in!

Layoffs!!!

These went out today

That's the last thing any of them need.

If you are collecting boxes and they are just sitting in your garage - get them in the mail! They are needed to help keep the artisans employed. If you have not started collecting - won't you consider it? It's easy and it's so rewarding!

For more information about shipping -
Click here

And feel free to contact me with ANY questions! If Rays of Hope gets boxes on a regular basis, Shelley will have a steady flow of LOTS of boxes each month. Let's blow her away with cardboard!!!!

Until next time....

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

As Summer Comes to a Close

Whew! Up early this morning - MUCH earlier than I like. Fixed the kids a good breakfast, packed them up and sent them out the door with Daddy for their first day of school. Jarod is in the 6th grade this year and my Anne Girl is in 1st. Goodness, where does time go?

Just so you know - Jarod was not real excited this morning and Anne was a bit nervous. Praying they have an AWESOME first day.

So with the kids off to school and Russ to the office - the house is so quiet! I had almost forgot what that sounds like. I should be doing important things around the house but I have decided to blog first. Besides - I have lots of fun photos to share with you from our vacation.

Besides our summer in Oregon, I think this may have been the busiest summer yet. Before it began, I had every intention of taking the kids to the beach - A LOT! We didn't go once! Not one time! And I can see the ocean from our church parking lot. Between Scout Camp, Youth Camp, Dance Camp, VBS, my best friend moving away and my busier than usual Calligraphy for the summer - we barely had time to think. The four of us went in different directions all summer so Russ finally said, "ENOUGH - plan something for the family. We have to get away."

Usually, we love to go to the mountains in the summer. But, having waited too long to book anything, we went south. To our other home - Orlando. We quickly remembered why we don't go that direction in the summer. Very busy!!! But - we didn't go to any of our beloved theme parks - we just hung around the condo and relaxed. Did a few things we have always wanted to try but have been to busy doing the parks.

All in all it was a great week. We shut off our brains, stayed up late, slept even later, watched really crazy shows on T.V. - Russ is totally addicted to Billy the Exterminator! And I think Storage Wars is pretty neat. Wow - did I just admit that publicly!? You can tell we do not have cable television in our home. Anyway - we spent lots of time by the pool, when it wasn't raining and sat on our balcony and watched the Epcot Fireworks.

Here is our week in photos:

We started our week off with a trip to Ikea. I had never been and was dying to check it out. Russ settled right into relaxation!

Arriving at our Condo

Our view from the balcony

They each had their own bed, but I walked in to this one morning. Just chillin out, watching TV - waiting for the rain to stop.

We went to the Pirate Dinner Adventure one night! Sooooo much fun!!!!

ARRRGH!!!!

Very cool show!

We took the kids to Disney Quest

5 stories of virtual, gaming fun!

Our first Virtual Game Experience - Riding the Comix! We went inside the comic books to help fight.....ummmm.....the bad guys. Ya - that sounds right!

Russell and Jarod became human pin balls - that was crazy to watch!

This was the BEST! We all had to work together to fight the pirates! I drove the ship and Russ and the kids shot the cannons. All while standing on a moving boat, wearing 3-D glasses with water, pirate ships and islands all around us. Totally fun!

Anne getting set up for another virtual game - this time we were on Aladdin's Magic Carpets.

Now let me take a moment and tell you that we are NOT gamers! This whole thing was a totally new experience for us. We bought our first Wii console a year and a half ago and it's not a major distraction in our house. While this was a great learning experience - Disney Quest will not be added to our Seasonal Passes. Once was enough. This was a great thing to do on a rainy day in Orlando - but we prefer the REAL rides at Disney.

We finished our fun day off with Ice Cream! Can't beat that!

Carrying his sister back to room after a long day of video games.

I'm seeing a theme for the week - something about our family and Pirates. Hmmmmm........

Waiting to go on the slide!

Even Daddy had a turn! I did too - but whacked my elbow coming through. Nice bruise on my funny bone - once was enough for me!

This was more my speed for the week!

And this was Russell's

Of course, we had to stop by our favorite pizza place! Giordanos! Because if you are going to have pizza - have PIZZA!!!! Yummmmmm!

We finished every night, sitting on our balcony - watching this! How cool!

We were very thankful for the opportunity to go and let our brains be mush for a week. You just have to do that occasionally. We came back relaxed and ready to face the world again - well..... maybe. It's easy to say that sitting in an empty house while everyone else is at work and school!

I did come home to this!

Marc laid tile in my kitchen! I'm so excited! I was so tired of the linoleum - just could not keep it clean. The tiles were given to us and because we did not have enough of each - Marc did a great pattern in the middle of the floor. I'm so happy with it.

Each time a turn a corner and get a glimpse of the new floor, I smile! First time I've had tile in my kitchen ever! I feel so grown up! Ha!!!! It really does add a nice touch to our home.

Thanks Marc for doing such a great job!!!!

(He's for hire - if anyone is interested. Let me know and I'll give you his info)

Now, I'm off to finish putting my kitchen back together......

Until next time........

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Chloe's First Visit to Disney

My brother Marc's birthday was Friday. We helped Sam surprise him and they joined us at Disney for the weekend. It was Chloe's first visit. As always, we had a great time. Thought I would share some pictures with you.