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November, 2009

  1. Happy Thanksgiving Everyone

    November 26, 2009 by Leanne

    There is so much to be thankful for this year. 

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    The beginning of the year definitely had a rocky start given the economy and all that surrounded it.  I am so thankful for my job with Disney and all my friends I’ve made from co-workers to new friends made online to friends made through projects I’ve worked on (Hello Moms Panelists!).  It truly has been an amazing year getting to know such wonderful people. 

    I’m thankful for my friends and family in my personal life. Although my family numbers are very low – in fact you can almost count them on one hand (mom, Uncle Jack, Aunt Betty and some cousins scattered around the country) they still mean the world to me. I wish I saw more of them in person. Thanksgiving and the Christmas holidays make me reminisce for the old days when we were kids and the celebrations were huge with 20 or more of us cramming into Grandma’s little 2-bedroom house for the holiday meals. The kids were segregated to the living room eating off card tables while the grown-ups sat at the dining room table. Do they even sell card tables any more?  Card tables and TV trays were staples in every house back then.

    I’m thankful for my best friends (and boyfriend!) The last year and half with Mike has been so much fun. I miss my friend Mike in California and his family – who at one time adopted me into their family circle. I wish we had more hours in the day to talk and catch up like we used to do.  And I’m thankful for my long-time friend Randie who never forgets me on the holidays.  Our friendship is going on 25 years.

    I’m thankful for all my friends from my past I’ve reconnected with through Facebook.  While I hardly ever see any of them in person it is rewarding to see what they’re all doing throughout the year and how their lives have changed over time. I enjoy reading their status updates and smile to see the fun their having with their families.  And if it wasn’t for Facebook I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to attend my high school band’s reunion gathering this summer. Oh yes, that made me cry! I loved band and the comradery it brought. Those were priceless and special friendships.

    And of course I’m thankful for my dogs. They bring such joy to my life despite the 2:00 am bathroom calls.  When Mikita takes a nap with me and lays her head on my shoulder to sleep – it just warms my heart. And poor Jefferson, who’s aging so rapidly in his elderly years – he’s so darn cute with his constant tail wagging just for glancing his way.

    I’m also thankful for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade.  What would Thanksgiving Day be without it?


  2. Tyra & Tiana & Little Princesses

    November 21, 2009 by Leanne

     

    A Friday evening at the Magic Kingdom in the fall makes for a very fun time. 

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    Add in Disney’s breath-taking holiday decorations and it gets even more spectacular. 

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    Add on to that -  a once-in-a-lifetime meeting of about 20 little princesses at a nighttime tea party under the glow of the amazing glistening Cinderella Castle with the newest Disney princess - Princess Tiana and it’s sure to be a wonderful night.

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    By wait – there’s one more add – bring on world famous Tyra Banks and her TV crew and – whoa!!

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    Just look at the face of the little girl behind Tyra looking up in awe of meeting both Princess Tiana and Tyra at the same time!

    To piece it all together, Tyra Banks taped a segment for her talk show (The Tyra Banks Show)about Disney’s newest and first African American Princess – Princess Tiana.  (Tiana debuts on the big screen on Dec. 11 in the new Disney movie, The Princess and the Frog.) Tyra surprised three little girls on her show last week with a trip to Walt Disney World to meet Princess Tiana IN PERSON. 

    The setting was as charming as you can imagine - a royal tea party at the base of Cinderella Castle, draped in lavish holiday lights with incredible desserts, hot cocoa, tea and punch.

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    Tyra was so wonderful with the girls. You could see that they truly looked up to her, not only because she’s tall (ha ha) but they were so excited to meet her.  And by the way, Tyra looked sensational!  Her hair was pulled back and she wore a button-down yellow tee paired with slender jeans topped off with tall red staccato 5-inch shoes. Way to go, girl!

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    The girls and their moms were waltzing with each other, laughing  and taking in every moment of this beautiful night. 

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    This segment will air on Tyra’s show this Wednesday, Nov. 25.  Check your local listings for channel and time. 

    I have to thank the wonderful and talented Leigh Caldwell who shot almost all these photos and allowed me to use them.  She is a wonderful person and not only a good photographer but also a great writer. She authors the blog “Theme Park Mom.com” that, as the name alludes, focuses on theme park destinations and families.

    I also want to give a shout out to my other bloggers who attended the Tyra-Tiana evening – Lorraine from “Ask Wifey” – who is also pictured above dancing with her daughter; and Stefanie of Mommymusings.com who I met about a year ago at Disney. They have wonderful blogs and I encourage you to stop by and check them out.


  3. Wordless Wednesday

    November 4, 2009 by Leanne

    My Canine Wordless Wednesday

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