Valeria Out Loud

Hi Everyone!

I wanted to start off this post with some cheer..more cheer than Disney? For me, YES! I am just on cloud nine.  Since my last weight loss post, I started on a mission to stop feeling stressed out. Stop letting the things I cannot control bother me. I started using my free time to enjoy my family instead of cleaning and meditating alone a little. Also, I went back to the feelings and thoughts that make me most happy. AND, I started back at the gym/active life at home again. What a difference a week can make!  I am happy to share that I have lost some weight doing all this- 2 lbs! PHEW! Also, today my office colleague started back from her maternity leave and she was so complimentary at how great I looked. She commented that I lost way more than 15lbs since we last saw one another back in June! Awesome, right?!  But, honestly, I feel so relieved from the inside out from taking these measures to release some stress.  I really did feel like I was holding my breath. Though I am still not ready to get back on the Weigh In! wagon yet. I want to give myself some time, think about a plan, and see if I can keep this new loss off for a little bit. Thank you for the advice, Andrea!

Ok, Disney!

If you have been keeping up, our airfare and resorts are booked /paid.. and our dinner reservations are set.  I wanted to mention that this trip will not be happening at Christmas time, but much later; though someday we will take them during the holidays. Disney World during the holidays really is spectacular. My husband had taken me there in November 2003, right after Thanksgiving. Every Christmas tree was perfect. The parks were adorned just right. Not a detail out of place.  I loved it so much. But with them so young in school, that time of year isn’t convenient yet.  So, where was I? Ok yes, their present details. Since this trip is being presented as a gift during Christmas, it gives me some great gift giving opportunities. Like a countdown calendar, clothing, hair accessories, books, coloring stuff, etc. for the trip.  I LOVE GIVING PRESENTS! The joy and expressions of my children when they open a gift just melts me completely, and if I could I would gift them something every day.

Which brings me to the first article of the Disney gift I drafted.. the character letters. I thought it would be nice to share these.  Last time, I used Walt Disney fonts to write out one letter from Mickey Mouse, in Mickey Mouse verse.  That letter was an introduction to going to Disney World. It was printed on heavy weighted cardstock, and placed right at the top of the box so they read it before opening the box.  They raved about that letter for months! But now the girls have one Disney trip under their belt, and couldn’t draft the same letter.

Pinterest is my very favorite online tool to research crafts, decor and party ideas.  So many people out there have great ideas, on the character letters, but I found only Mickey ones. I wanted to change that up for the girls. This year I am having 4 characters play roles, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and Phineas & Ferb.    Each character (or duo) has special stationery, which will be printed on that very same heavy cardstock when presented.  I decided to draft the letters as if they were writing them (using different fonts) and signing them with a signature at the bottom. Well, I don’t know how to mimic the characters’ signatures, so I snipped them off Google images!

I think they came out real cute. What do you think?: