I have to admit up front, I was hoping we’d have some better news on J’s job front by now, but am confident next week will bring something wonderful. The truth is, it would be so easy to focus on the negative and not even write a post like this detailing the things for which I am thankful…times are tough for sure, and so many times in instances of strife like this, we resort to phrases like, “Why me?” However, I came to an understanding a long time ago that the best answer to that question is, “Why not me?”

Who are we to choose who takes the easy road while others take the hard? And who’s to say someone isn’t (and they usually are) suffering ten times more than you are right now? Why not us? Who would we rather push this hardship onto? No one that I know, certainly. Again, not to say what we are going through is so unbearable or even the worst struggle we’ve experienced, but this has been given to us and we will come through it stronger than ever. Why not us?

…

It’s pretty obvious what my blessings are this year, I could rattle off my husband and children and mom and of course the amazing friends I’ve made recently. I am thankful for those things each and every day. In addition, I’d like to add some other things that make me pause, take a deep breath, and smile – from the inside out.

• Kids that actually *fought* yesterday over who got to dust more things as we cleaned the house. I know a time will come when they will not be so willing to help out, and I cherish these days when they are.

• A tiny little person that reminds me every minute of what’s truly important in life and how blessed I am, no matter what.

• A husband who, at the end of the day, would do any and everything just to make me smile. Despite the every day stresses and trials, I do appreciate that fact and love him more each day.

• The leaf I looked out the front window and saw fall off the tree. It’s pretty rare that we stop and look at nature happening around us and it’s the one constant in this crazy, fast-paced world we live in. So I loved that I looked up right at that moment and gave thanks for the beautiful world we live in.

• Family and friends that seem to think I’m pretty cool and are willing to support me in any way. I’ve always had a problem accepting compliments or entertaining the thought that people might actually like me…so to get that confirmation almost daily lately…is pretty mindbogglingly amazing.

• Hope. Dreams. I wouldn’t be where I am without hope and dreams. I can’t imagine a world or my mind without them and hope the day never comes when I wake up without hope in my heart and a dream to try to make come true. ♥

Happy Thanksgiving.

Of course there is much more for which I am thankful…and will be listing those things off tomorrow, but for today, I’m thankful for FINALLY making the perfect cheesecake with NO cracks!!

 

(We’ll see what it looks like sliced tomorrow!! Wish me luck!)

The recipe is Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake and was the dessert I made when I cooked my first Thanksgiving, 12 years ago! (There were many cracks in it that year!)

And yes, I know this is yet another NON-Wordless Wednesday from me!

Inspired by some of my fellow bloggers as well as my favorite, Family Fun magazine, I thought I’d share my family’s top Turkey Day crafts! I have to admit, almost all of the crafts my children have done over the years are thanks to their amazing grandmother, my mom. She has an agenda when it comes to the holidays and always makes sure the kids get to create something new each year and feel like a big part of the festivities. I have come up with a few of my own over the years though, so this list combines both.

Continue Reading Top Thanksgiving Day Kid’s Crafts

Ok, so I’m stepping outside of the Disney box here and using a Wicked reference for my title, but I couldn’t help it. After finding out I made the 2010 Disney Moms Panel, that line from the hit Broadway musical is all that kept popping into my head. It seemed fitting too, because as the song says, “There’s a kind of a sort of a…cost…” which of course is the fact that my amazing husband is still on the hunt for a new job. So my joy and happiness was a little dampened by that hardship we still have to conquer. I have no doubt that we will, it is just hard to forget about the reality at hand, even while you feel as if one part of you is walking in a dream.

In the same vein, I felt strange writing about it as I was and still am in such a haze of disbelief and awe. Things have been quite busy at home with the kids and all and I fell behind on my updating. Thank you to all of you that nudged me to come back to ZannaLand! I couldn’t leave you all hanging knowing the end of the Cinderella story but no details, right? So here is what happened on Tuesday, November 10:

There was a lot of buzz on Twitter and the message boards as we all thought the 10th was the day we’d hear one was or another if we’d made the panel. I had played over in my head again and again the sound of whomever was making my call saying, “We want to thank you for applying but unfortunately we don’t have a place for you this year…” I really thought I had flubbed my phone interview, so I was certain I would get a sad call and not a happy call.

continue reading Chapter 3 >>

♥

*I am not a Disney employee. The postings here are my own and do not represent the positions or opinions of the Disney Company.

It’s hard to believe Sesame Street is turning 40 today, but it’s true. This pioneering children’s television show has stood the test of time and continues to adapt and appeal to new children every year. In honor of today’s anniversary and inspired by my new blogging friend OhAmanda‘s Top Ten Tuesday, I thought I’d put together a list of my personal Top 10 Sesame Street Songs and Skits.

Each link below is a video from YouTube and will open in a new window so you can view them all at your leisure – Sesame Street’s birthday has slowed YouTube a bit with all the views.

10. R.E.M. – Furry Happy Monsters
9. Ladysmith Black Mambazo – African Alphabet Song
8. ladybug picnic
7. Martians Find a Phone – Kids, that item is a PHONE-shocking, I know! It had a cord and no buttons!! How did we survive?
6. Teeny Little Super Guy I remember looking in my cabinets and wishing he was there!
5. Herry & John John Count to 20 (LOVE John John!!)
4. Fly in my Soup! Waiter!!
3. Container of Milk, Loaf of Bread and a Stick of Butter I still say this every time I have to make a grocery list.
2. 1-12 Pinball Song I think this just sums up the 70′s.
1. Lowercase n This will always be my favorite.

While discussing my Top 10, my husband of course chimed in with his own picks and we soon had many more than 10, so I thought I’d add some of his favorites that weren’t in my list, as a bonus! I truly feel his favorites have shaped him has a person, since he’s sitting here laughing hysterically as he watches the videos.

5. Doin’ the Pigeon This was part of J’s courtship dance for me.
4. Phone Booth Rock Again, kids – this is called a “phone booth” if you needed to call someone while not at home, you used this, and a DIME to make a phone call. Crazy.
3. Bert & Ernie Fishing Heeere fishy fishy!!
2. It Ain’t Bad to Get Mad This Goat is okay with his anger issues.
1. Kermit the Gorf He was laughing to the point of tears watching this, perhaps I shouldn’t be blogging that though…

Of course these videos are just the tip of the iceberg of 40 years of amazing songs, parodies and skits. The humor back in the 1970′s was hilarious and free spirited. Though political correctness has changed the focus a bit, there are still some great parodies out there even now – they just released a Sesame Street version of “Mad Men” which is pretty funny. Popular musicians and actors will also still continue to make appearances, making the show much more enjoyable for parents as well.

We left off a lot of the more popular favorites, “C is for Cookie”, “Rubber Duckie” etc. but I hope you’ll comment here and share your favorites so we can all remember this epic show together!

You all know by now about my lifelong love of Disney and the various ways that love has manifested itself – as a cast member, a travel agent, a newlywed, a parent, and forever just a little kid at heart. In that time, I’ve met some amazing people: fellow cast members, Disney management, co-workers and friends both locally and online. However, in the short time that I’ve been blogging about Disney and my family full-time (less than 5 months) the connections I’ve made and caliber of people I’ve met are nothing short of spectacular.

I’ve chatted and emailed and met people where we feel – know there is an instant connection as if we’ve been friends for years. Disney is of course a major common denominator in those equations, there is always something to talk about or share. Though they are out there, it is very rare that I meet or talk with someone with a negative view of Disney. The love Walt had for his life’s work is contagious after all. It’s fun to pretend to be a Disney villain every now and then but most people with a true love of the Parks take on the caring, sharing, “do the right thing” attitude. Of course another characteristic is the embodiment of “dreams do come true“. All Disney fans I’ve met can rely on that mantra to make it through a bad day or carry on the hope for a goal they are trying to reach. I am no exception.

So I guess it should have come as no surprise to me when, in the midst of hoping my own dreams of being on the Disney Moms Panel came true, my husband had a setback and lost his job last week, that my friends (old and new) came rallying to our sides with love, support and offers to help. I couldn’t help but still be awed by what was unfolding before me. I received countless private messages of prayers, good thoughts and wishes via Twitter, Facebook and email. Offers to network J.’s resume around, websites to check, people to call. Unbelievable. All for someone most of them had never met. It really moved me to tears!

With all of that support and help, we had no time to mope or think of the negatives to the situation – we were both instantly pumped up and ready to find that next amazing opportunity that awaited him around the corner. If there’s something I’ve always had, it’s belief in my husband’s abilities. When I met him he was a bag boy at a grocery store (hey, he was 16!) and he turned himself into a successful IT network engineer, followed by software and .Net web developing AND is currently working on his 8th technical book to be published. So I have no doubt something will appear on the horizon that will make use of his wonderful talents. The help and networking from my friends has just been the added bit of pixie dust encouraging us to keep moving forward.

I wanted to thank everyone again for their words, prayers and thoughts for J. and our family. I cannot put into words myself (shocking I know!) how much it means to me to have all of you in our corner, lifting us up in both our times of triumph and need. I am forever grateful to know you and that you thought enough of us to help us succeed like this. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

I will keep everyone posted about when (not if!) J. secures a new position. He is meeting with people today which will hopefully lead to interviews and new job offers very soon. Of course, I am still hoping there’s some pixie dust waiting for me this week, in the form of a phone call from the Disney Moms Panel (a happy call I hope!) – and I’ll let you know about that this week as well. In these tough economic times, few are safe from life changes like this, whether in a large corporation or a smaller business. One thing is certain, friends and family will pull you through…and I have some of the best. Thank you all…♥

Now that Epcot’s 14th Annual International Food & Wine Festival is coming to an end (November 8, 2009 is the last day), you may fear that your chance to sample international spirits is gone for another year. This is not the case because a new little spot opened up during the festival – La Cava del Tequila inside San Angel Inn at Epcot’s Mexico pavilion. Here you can experience an endless array of tequilas from rare to common as well as beers and specialty margaritas. In addition you can enjoy tapas-style food items as well, to form the perfect pairing to the spirits available. The full menu is available at The Disney Food Blog, who’s updates on twitter first informed me of the margarita I wanted to try – the Aguacate.

Continue into La Cava de Tequila>>

Walt Disney Pictures and Robert Zemeckis proudly present Disney’s A Christmas Carol in Disney 3D opening this Friday, November 6, 2009. IMAX wants you to experience this amazing new film in IMAX 3D and is giving away prizes all this week on their facebook page.

Just by being a reader of ZannaLand, you can also enter to win a prize pack consisting of one Disney’s A Christmas Carol movie poster and one Disney’s A Christmas Carol: Movie Storybook. To enter simply become a fan of IMAX on Facebook and let me know by leaving a comment here on this blog entry. That’s it!

In addition, IMAX and Resourceful Mommy are hosting a Twitter party this Thursday from 9:00 – 10:00pm ET. Just log on to Twitter at that time and join in the fun conversations using the hashtag #xmasIMAX. Be sure to follow @IMAX and @ResourcefulMom to keep up with the giveaways! I’ll be there too, feel free to say hello – @zannaland

There will be more than a dozen winners during the Twitter party on Thursday night so be sure to RSVP for the Twitter party, EDIT: The Twitter party was a great success, but has now ended. The contest for the prize from participating blogs will end on 11/11, so you can still enter! Become a Facebook IMAX fan, and comment here!

See you Thursday night when we’ll turn those Bah Humbugs into Woo hoos!!

An outtake of our holiday card photo from last November...EVERYone looks different today! These little people have my ♥!