Girls' Bathroom Redo

This was one of the rooms that still lived in boring builder beige after living here for nearly 5 years. I have no excuse, except that the room had never spoken to me. Do you wait for your rooms to tell their story? Reveal their personalities? Well, I do. Wait, more like, I try to. Sometimes I force things just because I'm tired of looking at the same old thing. This room was probably left basically untouched because I'm rarely in the space. Unfortunately I didn't take any before photos. Bad girl!

 This bathroom belongs to Miss K and Miss H. Its a great design, a Jack and Jill bath that opens into both of their rooms. You can see a slice of Miss H's room in the mirror. Her bed is even made. Small wonders! 

Back to the layout... the shared space is nice when you have two teen aged girls that really don't care if somebody sees them running around in a towel. Daddy cares! Poor guy. Fortunately the shared bath pretty much keeps them corralled in their part of the house. 

Anyway. The bathroom is split into two parts. The section I am sharing today is the sink area. There's a little alcove behind the door leading to the bedroom that we finally found a use for.  Behind here, to the right, is the shower and toilet room. It has the added bonus of a small window. That is still a work in progress and requires Mr Shawn's attention. Carpentry...

Speaking of carpentry, this alcove area features a piece of his handy work. A little pallet upcycle work that you might recognize from here.

Our advent calendar has a new purpose.

Much needed jewelry storage. The buckets hold small items...earrings, small bracelets, chains and charms. A few or the dowels were kept free for larger beaded pieces, hoop earrings, and other items that won't fit in the buckets. The shabby pressed tin container holds bangle bracelets. I've had it for years and its served many purposes. Now it gets to keep the girls' 80's sparkle in order. The tea pot with matching cup and saucer was a gift from their grandmother from a little tea shop that is no longer in business in Auburn, CA. They have another one too. They make great little storage pieces. Pretty and functional. Perfect!

Below are more storage pieces, towels, a couple of photos from when they were little and the all important garbage can. Can't have enough of those in a girl's bath. This guy is a clearance buy at TJ Maxx and has a twin in the shower/toilet space. The white canisters are recycled Wally World candle holders. They are now the proud home of hair ties, head bands and plastic clips. Much better than the former unorganized drawer storage method.

I'd still like to paint the shelves out in white. Maybe a chalk paint finish? And I want to add some quote art work, highlighting some of the saying relating to sisters. A room is never finished, is it?

Partying At:

Disneyland Tips, Tricks and Secrets #2

Last week we discussed planning a Disneyland vacation, the pros and cons of busy season vs slow season, the multitude of hotel choices, and how long one should go . For most people I highly recommend going when Disneyland is operating with everything open and all shows running, in other words when its busy (summer, Thanksgiving thru New Years or Spring Break weeks). And I highly recommend staying on property if your budget allows. If not, choose a Good Neighbor Hotel along Harbor Blvd that is within easy walking distance of Disneyland (like Howard Johnson Anahaim or Candy Cane Inn or Anaheim Plaza Inn if you are on a tighter budget). Unless you like sitting in stop and go traffic and having your first line that you wait in for the day be at the entrance to the parking garage. If that is the route you choose, I'm gonna apologize now. Just know that other families will already be in the park riding rides, taking pictures with Mickey, or eating breakfast while you are still attempting to find a parking spot and then waiting for the shuttle from the parking lot to the park. I also recommend going for more days rather than less. Its cheaper per day the longer you stay. You will get to see and do more, and you will feel more immersed in the Disney experience with all of its glorious details that are so easy to overlook. 

Can Anybody tell me where this hidden Mickey is located?

Mornings are precious in Disneyland. They offer the quietest times in the park. Do everything you can during the planning stages of your vacation to insure you can get to Disneyland when it opens. Seriously, the early bird gets the worm!

Now that we have the dates, the hotel and the tickets taken care of, we can discuss your actual touring plan. This is when we talk about things like rope drop, fast passes, dining reservations, how to navigate the park, and when to go see shows. Not to mention where to sit and how to get those good seats.

Sounds a little over whelming, huh? That's why we're doing this. To make it easier and give you the knowledge that you need for a successful trip.

We are now in Disneyland nice and early. Technically you are in the park before its officially open.
Perfect.

Wow! Wait! Huh?

I recommend that you arrive at the gates to Disneyland with your tickets in hand (did I mention its cheaper to purchase your tickets online before you arrive?) 30 minutes before the published opening time on the Disneyland Calendar. They usually open the turnstiles (where you get your tickets scanned for entrance) about 15  minutes before the park opens and let us all line up at the end of Main Street.

See where the blue stars meet the yellow stars above? That is where the rope will be. When its time to open the park there will be a fun countdown and the rope will be dropped allowing you to enter the rest of the park. If you have people in your group that don't like crowds, but do like characters, this is an awesome opportunity to visit with select characters in the circle that is labeled Main Street USA. Then you can enter the park a touch later. This is all about a pleasant trip. If you like the excitement of those anxiously awaiting a fun filled day in Disneyland then do the rope drop. If you don't like crowds, visit characters with minimal lines. Its a win win either way.

Why are mornings not busier? Remember me mentioning that Disneyland is different from Disney World? The type of visitors in Disneyland are a little different too. Most people who visit Disneyland on any given day live fairly close, within a couple of hours drive. They don't tend to get to the parks early. They aren't on vacation, its their day off from work so they sleep in. Add to that dynamic, the people who are on vacation, but choose to sleep in any way. (Don't do it, seriously, its worth it) or they go to a sit down breakfast before going to the park. Again, don't do it! Eat in your room, or as you walk to the park or in the park itself. Mornings are the best time in the park. I can't stress this enough.

So, you are in the park, what next?

Grab a fast pass! A what?

Ok, Fastpass. Select rides in Disneyland offer a special ticketing system. Anybody can use this system. All you need is the ticket you use to get into the park. It doesn't cost anything and it works with all tickets, one day, multi day and Annual Passes. 

Disclaimer: The following info is valid as of April 2012. The Disneyland Resort Fast Pass system is ever changing. 

Disneyland rides with Fast Pass(FP):
Space Mountain (SM)
Star Tours (ST)
Splash Mountain (Splash)
Indiana Jones (Indy)
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (BTMRR)
Autopia
Roger Rabbit (RR) -- This is disconnected from the network. I will explain in a minute...

Disney's California Adventure(DCA) rides with FP:
Soarin' Over California (Soarin')
Tower of Terror (ToT)
Grizzly River Run (GRR) 
California Screamin' (Screamn')


These rides all have Fast Pass machines nearby (they are well marked) that you put your entrance ticket into  (you get it back) and it gives you an appointment card for the ride. Only so many appointments are available for each time slot, so the later in the day you get a FP, the later the appointment will be for. To make life easier, send one person with the tickets from everybody in your group to go get the FP for everybody. We call this our FP Runner. Sounds important huh? Saves time and unnecessary walking. Its allowed, don't worry.


Keep in mind that you can get another FP for the same ride or a different one when the appointment is up or two hours later, whichever comes first.

This is an Indiana Jones Past Pass. See how it says your next FP is available at 9:40? In the morning it will almost always match the appointment time on the FP. Later in the day, it is likely to give you a time two hours after you get the FP. 

Another neat thing with FP is that you don't have to return during that appointment window. This is a unique little loop hole that Disneyland currently allows. Its a silent policy, so to speak. But it may change as we head into the summer. Email me before your trip and I will let you know what the current policy is at that time. For now though, you can save that FP for after dinner when its busy, lines are long and you want to enjoy the park with less hassle. This is totally legit! For now...Keep in mind that the Disney employee(CM) in charge of checking these could technically turn you away after the end time of the appointment window, but I have never had it happen. NEVER.

So, with the knowledge that Disney doesn't enforce the end of the appointment window, you can now have your FP runner join you in line at the ride you are going to ride. 

In Disneyland I recommend getting FP in this order...

 Star Tours, Space Mountain, Indiana Jones, Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mtn RR, and Autopia.  Autopia is the slowest FP line in the park and only worth getting a FP for if you are doing  Disneyland in one day. Otherwise use the regular line during one of your mornings that you were smart enough to show up for rope drop for! Yeah early morning benefits!!!! You can get Roger Rabbit anytime since it isn't connected to the other rides and isn't effected by times relating to other FPs. Its also not a super busy ride most days, so it does not tend to run out of FPs during the day.

While we are discussing FPs , we need to touch on DCA too. The two parks' FP systems are not connected to each other. They don't talk. So you can hold FP from both parks at the same time. You can send a FP Runner to DCA to with everyone's tickets to begin collecting FP there. 

In DCA I recommend this order...

Soarin' Over California, Screamin', Grizzly River Run, and Tower of Terror

Most day DCA opens at 10am. 

This will all change when Carsland opens in June. More rides will have FP, Disney is likely to make changes to the silent rules of FP, DCA will open earlier, and it will generally be busier. I will do an update when we find out what they are going to do. Until then, we are gonna go with the above info!

Ok, you have your first FP, or sent a runner...what ride am I going to do?

This is a very personal choice. Each morning is different for us. One morning we dedicate to Fantasyland and the Matterhorn. Its just too busy (and no FP) during the day. One morning would go to Tomorrowland and Autopia. Yet another morning would be Finding Nemo (again no FP) and then over to DCA for their rope drop. If you have a Mickey fan I recommend using one morning to go to Toon Town when it opens (an hour after the rest of the park) and get in line for Mickey's House and pics with him in his studio. 

As you put together your touring plan for your trip, try to keep in mind how the majority of visitors move through the park. Fantasyland always gets busy quickly. Families with small children descend in droves fairly early in the day. By lunch you want to be out of there unless you have little ones that will want to spend a huge part of their day there. Tomorrowland also gets busy fast. Two of the park's biggest attractions are here...Space Mtn and Star Tours. Plus its bordered by the Matterhorn and Finding Nemo, both of which get busy fairly early. These are also generally the first rides to run out of FPs. Next would be Adventureland with Indiana Jones. Then The New Orleans Square rides of Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion, followed by Splash Mtn in Critter Country and BTMRR in Frontierland.

This true EXCEPT when Haunted Mansion has its Nightmare Before Christmas clothes on from the end of September until after New Years. During that time HM offers FP and you will want to get to it early. That ride has a cult following amongst Disney fans and gets insane. Its worth the effort though!

Are you seeing why its so important to get there early in the morning. On a good day, when we are all up for it, we can ride all the major Fantasyland rides, the Matterhorn, Star Tours, Space Mtn, Indiana Jones, Pirates and Haunted Mansion before lunch. Plus have FPs for Star Tours, Space, and Indy for later in the day.

Ok, so now its lunch time. You weren't quite as gung ho as we are, but you did manage to ride a few rides and get a couple of FPs. Its okay, its not a competition. We are only crazy on one morning of each trip, usually we are much more laid back. 

Next up? Lunch!

See you next week!

Lighter and Brighter Den

Finally, I have an update on the den redo. Project Lighter and Brighter continues around Sagebrush Ridge.

This is another $7 gallon of oops paint. A warm light beige.

As you can see, there is still a lot to do in here. 

The wall above the sofa will eventually get three mirrored panels mounted above it. 

The coffee table is in need of refinishing, as are the desk under the television and the small table next to the sofa. I'm also seriously considering painting the armoire, but Mr Shawn isn't thrilled with the idea. We shall see. For now its good enough. It gets used regularly by the girls, especially after school. They can come in , drop their stuff, spread out projects, eat snacks and hook their tablets up to the tv...all without Mom complaining that they have taken over the entire living room. 

Here is the before. Dark, cave like little room with absolutely no windows. The dark colors on the walls certainly did not help. I like the new lighter and brighter look. So, any suggestions on the finishes for the tables? Should I just refinish the wood? Paint? Sand it down and go rustic? A combination? How about the armoire? Yay or Nay????

Bathroom Inspiration

There are rooms at Sagebrush Ridge that are still living in builder beige. Its sad really. We have been here for almost five years. One would think I could have managed to paint all of the walls. A life lived does not always mean painted walls. Go figure. Honestly though, its beginning to bother me. Not because of the color, but because they did such a horrendous job! The paint is so thin in places, the moment you touch it with a sponge it wipes off the wall. Yikes! Not good for Spring cleaning motivation. What it has inspired is a bunch of room redos. The entry way, mudroom hallway and half bath are in progress. I need a little carpentry work done before it can be completed (which means a honey do project for hubby, and he has an amazing way of letting those sit far too long), so I have moved to the girls' Jack and Jill bathroom. It opens to both of their rooms, so it needs to be fairly neutral. Here's the inspiration so far.

(image) Fairfield House NJ

      

(image) Just a Girl

I love the subtle beachy/coastal nod. Relaxed, casual, easy to clean...

(image) Home Stories A to Z

There is a little alcove behind the door leading to Miss H's bedroom that is screaming for shelving. Goodness knows two teenaged girls need all of the storage they can get and Mom needs it to be pretty and easy to organize. I like the look of the above photo, but we will need to figure out a storage solution for all of their various jewelry to be incorporated in here too. Tossing it all into a box has NOT been a good solution.

(image) Country Sampler

I like the simple storage solutions in the above bathroom, not to mention the boarded wall treatment. The over sized crockery would be perfect for hair styling tools or extra towels, and the miscellaneous pumps make pretty containers for all of their various lotions and potions. This image reminds me so much of our first home when the girls were little. We had a claw foot tub upstairs, pine tongue and groove walls, and steep slanted ceilings that left little over head room. The low light and narrow mirror were solutions we had to utilize. We didn't have a choice. Here its just cute.

(image) Creek Line House

I'm thinking custom storage on the shelves like the above, but done with plastic bins for the Dollar Tree. How fun would that be mixed with crockery, clear glass canisters and various pump containers? 

(image )Simple Daisy

Add a few simple flowers...

And presto! A bathroom fit for two beauty queens.

Disneyland Tips, Tricks and Secrets #1

Good Morning. We are off to Disneyland, again, over Mother's Day weekend. It's my favorite place, ever. Its my happy place. But not just mine, my family's too. I love to share why its my favorite place and I love sharing how we tour. Disneyland can be expensive, frustrating and down right not worth it if you go in unprepared. I've seen it many times and I always feel sorry for the victim. Whether it be the crying, over tired child, or the frustrated and frazzled parent, I feel sympathy for their plight, especially when I know my experiences and advice could have likely prevented the entire situation. I share these same tips and tricks with friends and family who even mention they are going to Disneyland. I share in lines while there. And now I'm gonna share with you. Join us every Wednesday!

So, without further ado...

I make it a point to read this sign when I enter Disneyland at the beginning of each trip. Yes, each and everyone. And you should too. It sets the stage, so to speak, that Mr. Walt Disney so carefully planned for us nearly 60 years ago. He wanted to create a place the parents could play WITH their children and provide fun for the entire family. This series is all about taking that simple premise and making it apply to the reality of today's Disneyland.

First, when do we go? 

It used to be that there were weeks, even months in the year that were not busy. You got lighter crowds, but you also missed out on some of the rides and entertainment options. You see, when it isn't busy, Disney will take advantage of that opportunity to impact the least number of guests and do maintenance on rides, restaurants and other attractions. And give a vacation to some of its performers. It has to happen and it used to ONLY happen during slower times. Like September, October and November before Thanksgiving and then again in February and March leading up to Spring Break season and again after the Spring Break weeks until mid June. These rules aren't really true any more. Disney has done a remarkable job of taking one of the all time slowest months, October and transforming it into one of the busiest months with their special Halloweentime offerings. And special they are! We will cover that another day.

The marketing gurus have done that for most of the year. So now, the only quieter times in the park are in January after the kids are back in school and again in May before school lets out for the summer. Its just not enough time to get all of the maintenance done that a busy park requires. So they rotate the attractions throughout the year. January and May are known for attractions being down and for entertainment offerings being slim (especially during mid week). Its a trade off. Less crowds = shorter lines and cheaper hotels, but they also mean rides being closed, shows dark except on Fri, Sat and Sun and shorter park hours. Sometimes Disneyland will only be open from 9am to 8pm. 

The busiest times of the year are summer (duh!), Thanksgiving thru New Years and the Spring Break Season in March and April. Those months see far fewer ride closures, shows and entertainment will run at full capability (some shows show multiple times a day) and longer park hours. Disneyland will usually be open 8am to midnight every day. But that means more crowds (that are somewhat alleviated by more rides to be on and more shows to see and more hours to be in the park) and higher costs, especially for your hotel. 

If you are planning on a one time vacation to Disneyland Resort, I highly recommend going when the parks are operating at full capacity with as few things down and out as possible. The crowds can be managed, but you will never get to see that closed attraction or dark show.

If you have been before or plan to return again soon, off season can be a lot of fun. Sometimes you feel like you have the park to yourself. Its a trade off. We are going in May and know that Thursday will have almost no entertainment and shorter hours and the whole trip has a couple of killer rides closed. BUT we have been before and know we will be back. We will catch it all next time.

Something else to complicate the "when to go?" question is blackout dates for various Annual Pass holders. I recommend Googling Disneyland Annual Pass Blackout Calendar. There you will see when the different levels of Annual Passes are allowed, or not, into the parks. When the Southern California Resident ones are not blocked, it will likely be busy with locals that come later in the day, especially on the weekends and just before or just after a long stretch of blackout dates. You will see this little phenomenon just before and after the summer season, holiday and spring season blackouts. Like I said, they tend to come later in the day, but they definitely impact the parks.

So, now you have an idea of when to go. Next up...

Where do I stay?

You have choices. 

Stay on Disney property at one of their three hotels. The Grand Californian, Disneyland Hotel or Paradise Pier.

Or

Stay off property. Nearby in one of the motels or further away in the bigger properties (like the Hilton).

Easy, right? Wrong. I have done them all (on some level); let me share my thoughts.

My first choice is always to stay at a Disney property. Its a top notch vacation choice. Especially the Grand Californian, which is practically in California Adventure (Disneyland Resort's second park) and steps from Disneyland itself. The other two are close as well. Staying in any of the three Disney hotels means you get early entrance to the park on each day of your stay that its available (meaning Tues, Thurs, Sat and Sun you get to enter the park 1 hour before the it opens to the rest of the public). This is some of the quietest times I have been in the park. Its amazing. We will talk about early entry more as we discuss park tickets and making your touring plan. Disney is known for its quality service levels and you will experience that same level of service at the hotels. And their pools are way cool kid magnets with water slides and kiddie splash areas and drink service for the adults. A real resort vacation experience.

But, Disney hotels are expensive. At least to me. $400 plus a night for their nicest hotel, the Grand Californian, is a bit rich for my blood. There are deals and discounts to be had, but they are becoming harder to come by. Something to discuss another day...

The alternative is off property. Disneyland is in the middle of a thriving, populated area. The Convention Center is just down the road and so is Angels Baseball Stadium. With those kinds of attractions comes a multitude of accommodation choices. For ease we are going to split them into two groups, the nearby (as in you can literally walk to Disneyland) properties and the larger, nicer hotel chains that you would need to drive to and from the park to utilize. 

We usually choose off property, but still within walking distance. Although the motels along Harbor Blvd that  are literally across the street are not 4 star resorts, they offer the easiest, most sensible (IMO) choice. 

I highly recommend researching the properties along here. They vary greatly in amenities, upkeep, service, location and cost. There are some that we will never stay in and others that we adore. The diagonal line at the tp of the map is I-5; I don't recommend  staying north of this point. I also don't consider anything south of # 31 and #34 as walking distance. #7, 11 and 1 require walking around the resort (yellow) to the entrance, which is at #9. The ones floating to the east (32, 35, 29, 30 etc) require a trek around the local streets too. Loong walk. Two of my personal favorites are the Howard Johnson (known as HOJO Anaheim) #26 and the Candy Cane Inn (not on the above map, but next to #16). Both run around $130 a night, both are about a 7 minute walk and both are clean, offer great service and pools with hot tubs. And you really can't go wrong with the tight knit group directly across the street, but they can be more expensive.  

 HOJO offers a second kids splash area with a small water slide and a water park style play structure. Great in the summer. And you can snag a deal on half price rooms if you keep an eye on their RETRO rates in the forums on their website. The RETRO rate can be illusive, but it mean $59/nite. All you need is an Entertainment Card or Annual Pass. Even if the RETRO rate isn't available during your dates, you can get 15% off with the Entertainment Card and 20% with an Annual Pass. Not too shabby when you are on a budget. 

Candy Cane Inn offers repeat customers and Annual Pass holders $10 off per night. What they don't have in discounts they offer in amenities. They have a private (and free) shuttle to and from Disney every half hour and they offer a fantastic continental breakfast (the BEST I have had in any hotel/motel). The service is impeccable and their landscaping  is classic southern California.

My other choice (if I need a budget choice and the HOJO Retro rate is not available) is Anaheim Plaza Inn. This property is also missing on the map above, I have no idea why, but its near #34. Its also a 7 minute walk to the park, but its a little older than the other two properties. Its clean, but worn. No shuttle, no breakfast. But they are usually around $60/nite and have a ton of parking. And an olympic size pool with a hot tub. 

Have you noticed a hot tub is important? At the end of a long day of walking around the parks and riding roller coasters you may be a touch sore. Hot tubs are an excellent cure.

Walking distance is a must have for us. If I am going to spend my hard earned cash and time off on vacation, I do not wish to spend it on the area's streets or in parking garages or on shuttles that make multiple stops. They are time sinks and take away from my trip to the Happiest Place on Earth. I prefer to park my car and not see it again until its time to go home. Plus, parking costs an additional $15/day at Disney and the "nicer" name brand hotels often charge additional for parking on their lots too. Even when your car is parked at Disneyland all day. Most offer a shuttle service called Anaheim Resort Transit, but it stops at almost all of the hotels in the area, fills quickly and can take forever! I'd rather just walk along the landscaped paths, drink my morning cup o' joe and discuss our plans for the day. 

Walking distance has another big plus too. Especially during busy times of the year or if you want to save money or if you have young children. You can go back to your hotel at any time, easily. Kids need a nap? You too? No problem. Want to eat a cheap lunch out of your cooler? Yep, you can do that! Or order a pizza for delivery! Hot? Go take a swim. Cool off, have a beverage of your choice and relax pool side.

By staying nearby you can change clothes easily, take a nap, eat cheaply, swim the hottest part of the day away, or escape the crowds on busy days! So important and invaluable for a successful experience. So much better than waiting for shuttles or being stuck in traffic or finding a parking space in a huge concrete parking garage.

Now, how long do we go for?

Most people can comfortably see the major things Disneyland Resort has to offer in three full days. If you have little ones or like detail, go for five. Trust me. Now, don't get me wrong it can be done in a day, and I will tell you how, but you won't see it all. Not even close.

The more days you enter the park, the cheaper each day gets. The other up side to three or more days is a perk that is normally reserved for Disneyland Resort Hotel guests. With a three day or longer park hopper ticket (meaning you can visit Disneyland and/or California Adventure at any time, on any day) you get to enter the park one hour before regular park opening once. We call these opportunities Magic Mornings. They are usually offered on Tues, Thurs, Sat and Sunday. With your three day (or longer) ticket you get to take advantage of this perk one time. That hour is magic. There is practically nobody in the park. I have ridden every ride in Fantasyland and Pirates of the Caribbean and Space Mountain in that hour. Seriously.

Next week we will discuss how to plan your time in the parks and do it all without driving yourselves, and your family, nuts. It can be done I promise.

Please chime in with your thoughts and experiences. I love to hear about other's trips and would love to learn a new tip, trick or secret! Its always a learning process.

Disneyland Tips Series

Here we are again, another trip to our favorite place on Earth, Disneyland!

 I can't think of a better way to spend Mother's Day weekend. Really, I can't. So much so that we will be spending the extra money and investing in Annual Passes for each of us. A gift that will get used multiple times over the next year.

How can you be looking forward to going someplace you have been multiple times? Not just once, but many times in the next year? That is frequently wall to wall people, crying children, and examples of bad parenting? Who the heck chooses to stand in long lines for a kiddie ride? Wait! Isn't that place for kids? Princesses and Mickey? What would make a grown woman and her husband and two teens want to go back again and again? And who the heck can afford that!? Don't you live 8 hours away?

Sound about right? 

I hear every one of these questions from friends, family and acquaintances. Every. Time. We. Go.

But, I have converted a few of those same doubting Mustafas. Really I have. And I can convert you too. If only you will give me half a chance.

So let me start with a little background....

Prior to high school I lived just minutes away from Disneyland. My Daddy was the absolute best at making that drive much longer. I think he was scared to let us know how close we truly lived. We would have insisted on more frequent trips. As it was we went at least once a year, and probably more. Then we moved to Northern California and I kind of forgot about Disneyland. So sad. I grew up, got married, had children. And those children started asking about this mythical place that friends were getting to go to. The place that their favorite movies retired its characters to. So we decided Santa would take us to Disneyland for Christmas. A family gift, if you please. Hubby had only been a couple of times and was game to go again. 

So, on a cold January day we packed the kids up in the trusty Subaru and made the overnight drive down I-5. By morning we were in Anaheim. I had forgotten how beautiful Southern California is and how perfect the weather can be. Old Man winter was left behind in Northern Nevada and gave way to sunshine and pleasant temps. Flowers were blooming, trees were green. Paradise. Disneyland? She had us at "Hello".

We came back that same May with hubby's parents, and then again the following Christmas. We decided to buy our first annual passes that year, on our third trip in less than a year. We have had passes most years since. I think our longest stretch without a trip has been nine months. And we still have not done everything the resort has to offer.

So how do we do it? How do we...

a) afford it?

b)keep the experience new?

c)maintain our sanity on the busiest of days?

I'm gonna let you in on all of our secrets. Some are well known, but often overlooked. Others are out there, if you do your research. Some are more obscure. A few are even controversial (eeeeekkkk). But they are all tried and true.

So here begins another series for Sagebrush Ridge.

Every Wednesday leading up to our trip in May I will share our Disneyland tips, tricks and secrets for an amazing visit. Who will benefit? First timers, peeps with a few tips under their belt, single day trippers, multi day visitors, families with babies, young children and teens or any mix thereof, couples... anybody really. When I get back I will share anything new that I learn. And, yes, there is always something new to be learned. Disneyland is ever changing, so is touring it.

But remember, this series will only apply to Disneyland Resort in Anahaim, CA. NOT DisneyWorld in Florida. Totally. Different. Beast. Totally. Trust me.

First post will be up tomorrow! See you there!

The Simple Life Lived Well

My theme for the summer:

The Simple Life, Lived Well

Outdoors

Family

Friends

Gardening

Camping

Lazy days at the lake

Swimming with the pups

BBQ's

Simple, fresh meals

Cocktails on the patio at sunset

I cannot wait.

Walk In Closet Woes

I have a huge walk in closet in our master bedroom. And I hate it! I know there are many of you out there that would kill for my closet. At one point in time I thought I would have too. 

But here's the problem...Neither Mr Shawn nor myself have a whole lot of clothes. Hubby has his casual wardrobe, his work wardrobe and one suit. And ski clothes. I have my casual wear, a couple of nice dresses and one formal gown. And ski clothes. That's it folks. The casual clothes for both of us consist of a couple pair of jeans, a couple of long sleeve shirts, a couple of sweaters and a few tshirts. Well, hubby has more than a few, but under 20. Either way, its not enough clothes to make our cavernous closet very useful. That leads to a lot of left over space.

Why is left over space a problem, you ask?! Because that space has a funny way of filling up. My clothes closet is now the home of not only our meager wardrobes, but all of the artwork that I rotate through the house when I am in the mood for change, boxes of keepsakes from when the kids were little, more boxes of photos (remember when we actually had to pay to print them all?!), an old computer monitor or two (why?! I couldn't tell ya), doors to my girls' closets (they function so much better without doors), the outdoor patio furniture cushions (come on spring...you can do it!), every extra blanket we own (and need for camping and guests), not to mention a drum set (actually TWO), a guitar amp, guitars, speakers, monitors, and all of the equipment an at home recording studio requires. 

Save me!

Needless to say, I can't usually find what I really need in that closet, a pair of comfy sweats and a tshirt. 

So, I have been looking for ways to organize it, ways to share the space (what? None of you have a musician that hangs out in your closet? I didn't think so), and ways to store the other extra stuff somewhere else. How can it be that a 2600 sq ft home doesn't have a linen closet? That's right....they gave me a huge master closet.

To top it all off...I have a cat who shall remain nameless that likes it when we leave laundry on the floor, especially towels. They must resemble his litter box or something...No. I won't get rid of the little bugger. We have learned to close doors, most of the time. Perhaps we should learn to put away our clothes? Hah!