Actually, I kid. A lot. Charm City Cakes, Buddy from Cake Boss and any other bakers, with or without tv shows, have absolutely NOTHING to worry about. However, I am in need of their creative thinking right now. I’ve sort of built up a reputation of making fun and exciting cakes for the two big kids birthday parties and now that I’ve sent out invitations for my baby’s 11th birthday party (I still remember MY 11th birthday like it was yesterday…how can I have an 11 year-old son?!), I am drawing a blank as to how to compete with prior years’ creations. I took a year off for C’s last party because I was still adjusting to having a baby around and the place we had the party offered ice cream cakes, so it seemed to work. However with S’s last party, I upped the ante with the famous Spaghetti & Meatballs Cake for her Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs movie party, so I feel it’s only fair I get back on track for C’s party in 2 weeks.
Disney Movie News & Reviews
Goat Cheese in Puff Pastry with Balsamic Vinegar
A little while back my friend wanted to come over and make a Beef Wellington for the first time ever. I’ve seen enough Gordon Ramsay shows to know that dish was a bit too intimidating for me to even attempt. Not wanting to be completely useless, I decided to make us some appetizers using the goat cheese we’d just brought home and some frozen puff pastry shells we had. Now before you think, wow, Zanna has written a whole paragraph and there is no mention of Disney – what gives? Well, I’ll have you know that whenever I think of goat cheese, I think of Tony’s Town Square restaurant in Magic Kingdom, which at one time served a baked goat cheese appetizer and it was divine. So that’s what made me decide to whip this up that night. I posted a picture on Twitter and got many compliments and requests for a recipe, so I thought I’d share.
The Great T.P. Debate! Cottonelle Over/Under Contest
I’m sure you’ve seen the new Cottonelle commercials featuring the debate of the ages – putting the toilet paper over or under when you start a new roll. If you’re anything like me, you are pretty passionate over your choice. I know I actually get kind of annoyed at the people on the commercials that say “Under!” How can they possibly feel under is the way to go? OVER is clearly the only choice, it shows the top of the roll that way – and every time you are in a hotel, you always know housekeeping has been there because they fold the TOP of the roll into a nice little triangle – hanging OVER the roll!! 😉
But don’t let my opinion sway you – you can now vote for your own choice, over or under! Head to http://www.cottonellerollpoll.com and place your vote!
Also, by leaving a comment on this post you will be entered to win 1 of 10 Cottonelle gift baskets randomly chosen on January 29, 2010 from all entries!
Disclosure: By posting this entry, I am entering a contest for a month’s worth of Cottonelle toilet paper as a member of the Mom Bloggers Club.
We’ve Only Just Begun…
Happy 2010 to all reading this! I took a bit of time off from writing for the holidays to enjoy some family time at home, but now it’s time to get back into full swing here at ZannaLand. I can’t tell you how excited I am for this new year and all it may bring. I thought I’d take a moment to talk about where I’ve come from and where I hope to be going in 2010.
According to my archives, I wrote my first entry on this blog on March 5, 2009. It was a pretty silly entry about working on the technical stuff and how I’d soon be updating. Then a month went by and I posted one more time. And another month and I posted a rant about annoying people leading up to Mother’s Day. Then…I decided to make the switch and talk about what I knew, Disney. In June, I started writing semi-regularly about the topic I know and love, Walt Disney World. It’s been both a long 10 months and at the same time feels like the past year flew by.
I went through many changes in a short time with the blog, wondering if I should be all newsy and informative, realizing no one can compete with the amazing Disney news sources already out there, thinking I should be more personal, starting up a sub-blog about personal things, realizing I should just combine the two, and getting to where I am today – a blog about all the things I find interesting and share-worthy about my life, family and the World (Disney World that is). I know a lot more about the world of blogging and social media than when I started, but boy do I still have a lot to learn! And I can’t wait to learn it!
Happy Holidays from Zannaland!
Yes, Virginia…
Ever since first hearing about the famous little Virginia and her letter in the September 21, 1897 edition of the New York Sun, it’s become a part of my annual holiday heart string-pulling. I cling to it more closely this year, when my 9 year-old daughter is at the age where she questions the veracity of Jolly Old Saint Nick. It’s hard in this day and age to keep that particular bit of magic alive, in a time when commercials are touting “Christmas for less!” and blatantly showing parents relieved to get presents for their children at discount prices. “Why do you have to go shopping?” she asks smugly. “How does he get to every house in one night anyway??” and “People at school say he’s not real and there’s no such thing as Santa Claus.” Telling her I still believe doesn’t seem to work as well.
Holiday Commercial Round Up!
With the exception of the Super Bowl, there are few times as exciting in the world of television commercials as the holiday season. There are some that stick with us for years, good or bad. I thought I’d share some of my favorites for 2009 as well as the ones that bug me the most!
Love the Island of Misfit Toys Verizon commercial. Poor iPhone!
Sneak Peek at the New Rayovac Commercial Set in Disneyland!
Did you know Rayovac is the preferred battery of Walt Disney World and Disneyland resorts? I didn’t! They have just completed a new commercial set in Disneyland, seen through the eyes of a little princess visiting the park, and all the magic that appears as she makes some wishes. It’s a really sweet video and I was given the opportunity to share it with you all before it debuts on Good Morning America on Monday, December 21, 2010.
Wasn’t that adorable?! I just came *back* from Walt Disney World and it makes me want to run right back. (I’d buy all those light up wands and spinners if I could too those never get old!) I loved the song too!
In addition, Rayovac is offering its Facebook fans a $3 off coupon on their new Facebook page. Just become a fan, click the coupons tab and enter your email address to receive the coupon. That’ll be helpful to stock up for batteries this holiday season!
*Rayovac asked me to share this with my readers, but I have not been compensated in any way or provided with copy to post here. I received the video and coupon link from Rayovac, not from the Walt Disney Company or any of its employees.
WDW Moms Panel 2010 Training – Part 1 of Many!
Alright, I’ve waited long enough for this update! The truth is, in addition to heading back to Disney World 2 days after returning from training, and then getting sick and having a sick baby to take care of, the thought of trying to put back into words all the the amazing sites, experiences and emotions I felt during the 5 days of training was just a tad overwhelming! But I’m finally here and figure if I break it down into days, I can tackle it. It’s just too good not to share, right?
On the day I was supposed to drive up, I got cold feet. I know, most people would have killed to be in my shoes, both being close enough to drive to Walt Disney World and being picked to be on this amazing panel…but I still got nervous. You see, there’s a reason why I write a blog and don’t host a pod cast or web cast or anything else involving face-to-face interaction. I am in fact, pretty shy. There, I said it. I wasn’t always this way, my 1st grade report card lists me as a “Social Butterfly” and as a result I was separated from my best friend for 2nd grade. It isn’t even because of all the moves my family made over the years, deeming me the eternal ‘new kid’ – I actually had no problem making friends and keep in touch with many of them from all the way back to grade school. This really started in college but is also a combination of being nervous about speaking in front of people. Let me digress a bit…
Help Toys for Tots Through 1-800-flowers.com
In addition, 1-800-flowers.com is giving 10% of net proceeds from their Toys for Tots collection back to the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. Just pick an arrangement or gift from their exclusive collection and enter code TOYS at checkout.
Be sure to become a Facebook fan of 1-800-flowers.com for more news and great deals for the season!
